Scarecrow Inc. has been granted a patent in Malaysia. With this, we now hold four patents in total: one overseas and three in Japan.
We would also like to take this opportunity to explain what it actually means to be granted a patent, and why we need to obtain rights not only in Japan but overseas as well.
About the patent
| Country | Malaysia |
|---|---|
| Patent number | MY-212398-A |
| Filing date | October 25, 2024 |
| Registration date | February 18, 2026 |
| Patent owner | Scarecrow Inc. |
An image of the patent certificate is available on our Scientific Hub. Details, including the title of the invention, are published in the official gazette of each patent office.
What does it mean to be granted a patent?
A patent is not granted simply because an application is filed. It becomes a registered right only after passing examination by the patent office of each country. Examination looks mainly at three points:
- Novelty: the technology has not previously been known to the public
- Inventive step: the technology could not easily have been conceived even by an expert in the field
- Industrial applicability: the technology can actually be used in industry
In other words, a registered patent is the fact that our technology has passed examination by an independent public body, not just our own claims about it. For a company engaged in development, we believe it is one of the few mechanisms through which our technology is verified by outside eyes.
At the same time, we want to be clear about one thing to avoid any misunderstanding. A patent is a right granted to a technology itself; it does not guarantee or prove the effects or quality of a product. We want to state plainly that "holding a patent" does not mean "being a good product".
Why obtain patents overseas, not just in Japan?
Patent systems follow the principle of territoriality: a patent right is valid only within the country that granted it.
This means that a patent obtained from the Japan Patent Office is effective only within Japan. To protect our technology abroad, we must file in each country and pass that country's examination. Both the procedures and the examinations take time and money for every country involved.
Our products are currently used in 31 countries around the world. Securing rights overseas lays the groundwork for continuing our business in each of those countries. This patent in Malaysia is the first step.
Our connection with Malaysia
Behind this patent in Malaysia is our ongoing exchange with the country's veterinary community. Over the years, we have taken part in events including the following:
- 7th FASAVA Congress 2016, Federation of Asian Small Animal Veterinary Associations (Malaysia)
- 27th Malaysian Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress MSAVA 2017 (Kuala Lumpur)
- Malaysian Veterinary Congress
- MSVA Congress 2023, exhibitor booth (Malaysia)
Our many conversations with veterinarians in Malaysia led to this application.
Our patents (4 in total)
| Overseas | 1 (Malaysia, registered February 2026) |
|---|---|
| Japan | 3 |
A list of our patents and images of the certificates are available on our Scientific Hub, together with our joint research and records of our congress presentations.
Looking ahead
Over our 25 years, we have continued to develop original ingredients and manufacturing technologies through joint research with universities and research institutions. To keep our products available to 3,000 veterinary clinics in Japan and in 31 countries around the world, we believe we need both a system for protecting our technology and a commitment to making it public in a form that others can verify.
We will continue to share the knowledge we gain through development wherever possible. To learn more about us, please also see our company profile.