SIKs is a patent firm specializing in chemistry and bio-related fields.

The fields that we handle are diversified, including organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, physical chemistry, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, optics, biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, molecular biology, food products, cosmetics, chemical engineering, analytical chemistry, and electrochemistry, and we are also actively involved in new technologies of boundary areas resulting from the fusion of chemistry/bio-related technologies and technologies of other fields for which development is advancing in recent years.

At SIKs, when acting as an agent for Japanese applications, we basically act as a corporate agent in the form of a patent professional corporation.

In the course of acting as the agent of numerous clients as a single patent professional corporation, all partners carefully confirm the cases to prevent any technical contamination and conflict of interest.

At SIKs, our patent attorneys are directly involved, in all cases, in drafting specifications and preparing corresponding documents in the examination process including opposition.

In drafting of patent specifications, in addition to making additions and revisions to the draft specifications provided by our clients, our patent attorneys meet the various needs of clients such as drafting a specification from the inventor’s memos and technical proposals, or newly drafting a specification based on the contents of meetings with the client.

In entering into the national phase of Japan based on a PCT application or filing Japanese patent applications for foreign clients, patent attorneys who are in charge of the instant case or outside reliable translation agencies with excellent knowledges and skills prepare translations into Japanese in a case where the original foreign application is based on a specification written in English. The translation of the specification from English into Japanese prepared by the translation agencies will be reviewed by a patent attorney who are in charge of the instant case before filing. We also accept any translations prepared by clients. In such a case, we will file a patent application to the JPO based on such translations which have been prepared by clients with or without our review in accordance with the client's instruction.

In preparation of documents to be filed to the JPO, including a response to an office action in the examination process, patent attorneys in our firm will propose countermeasures from a legal view and discuss the details with clients and then prepare an appropriate document based on the Japanese Patent Law and patent practices in Japan. We can also receive any comment from a foreign client, and patent attorneys in our firm then review the comment and we will contact the client, as appropriate, to provide our legal advices and proposals which are best suited for the client on the basis of our experiences on the Japanese patent practice.

At SIKs, we have handled numerous PCT applications and foreign patent applications, and the number of countries where we have filed patent applications is over 90 countries across the globe. We prevent mistranslations and ensure proper subject matter of the English translation of specifications by the patent attorney, who is in charge of the PCT application or the domestic basic application, personally proofreading the translation.

We also take over cases, which were prepared and filed by clients, from the stage of the PCT application, or take over cases, in which domestic applications or PCT applications were prepared and filed by clients, from the stage of national entry. Our patent attorneys also personally deal with technical and legal matters in the examination process, as well as propose and consult on countermeasures and correspond with foreign agents.

We also actively offer services related to the offense based on client’s own patent rights and the defense to unauthorized parties based on the patent rights, and we have numerous patent attorneys qualified to act as an IP litigator (a specific infringement lawsuit counsel). 10 patent attorneys are registered as an IP litigator as of February 2022.

*Patent search (before filing or validity of patent)
*Giving expert opinion (on validity or infringement of patent)
*FTO (Freedom To Operation)
*Counsel of suit for revocation of trial decision or suit of patent infringement (representation by a patent attorney: For suit of patent infringement, representation as an IP litigator)
*Filing of opposition, observation, consultation on invention (various research institutions, etc.)
*We also offer patent seminars and advice on IP strategies.