The bill to revise Japanese Patent Law was passed in the Diet on May 23, 2018. The revision regarding the exception to loss of novelty (Article 30 of Patent Law) will come into effect on June 9, 2018. The period of the exception will be extended from six months to one year. The revision applies to Japanese patent applications filed on or after June 9, 2018 (See Figure 1). When invention disclosure was made on or after December 9, 2017, a one-year exception period is available, provided that a patent application is filed on or after June 9, 2018 (See Figure 2).