According to the Japan Patent Act and the JPO’s Examination Guidelines for Patents, the following items are not patentable in Japan:
- any invention that is liable to injure public order, morality or public health
- laws of nature
- scientific discoveries
- inventions not using the laws of nature (e.g. economic laws, mathematical methods etc.)
- inventions contrary to a law of nature
- arbitrary arrangements (e.g. rules for playing a game)
- mental activities
- personal skills
- mere presentation of information
- aesthetic effects (e.g. paintings, carvings)
- methods for medical treatment of the human body
For more information, see the Japan Patent Act and the JPO’s Examination Guidelines for Patents and Utility Models.