�@Time is of the essence.

If your term expires...

Please keep your deadline. If the term expires, you may not acquire a right.

For example...

According to the provision of Exception to lack of novelty of invention (Article 30), you could no longer apply this regulation more than 1 year after loss of novelty of invention. As a result, you suffer heavy losses because you miss acquiring any rights concerned.

Keep in mind...

It is useful to share information about your deadline with colleagues and check each other. To write the time limit on a piece of paper and put it on conspicuous place is much better.

�AConfidentiality

Confidentiality...

If a third party who has no duty of confidentiality knows invention, novelty of the invention is lost (Article 29(1)(i)). So you must be careful of protection of the confidentiality.

Leak out...

Novelty of design is lost if a third party who has no duty of confidentiality glances at the design. However, there is no lack of novelty of invention unless the third party understands technical details of the invention. So, it doesn't matter that a third party who has no technical knowledge glances at papers regarding the invention. But it is important to keep the papers secret because the novelty may be lost in case that it is possible that a third party who has the technical knowledge and no duty of confidentiality glances at the papers.

Written Promise...

It is important to make a written promise as well as an oral promise. Because application of Exception to lack of novelty of invention is possible in case of disclosure against will of a person having a right to obtain a patent (Article 30(1)).