Trademark Registration in Japan

• Trademark Registration in Japan Name of Office: Japan Patent Office
• Address: 3-4-3 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-8915, Japan
• Phone number: +81-3-3581-0762

Office applies the current version of Nice Classification, you can find acceptable goods and services in this link.

Our professional trademark attorney in Japan will prepare and file your application for trademark registration in Japan.

Trademarks are filed at the Japan Patent Office, Japan uses the "first-to-file" policy. No evidence of use is required upon filing a trademark. Trademark protection is obtained by registration.

It can also be acquired by sufficient public recognition pursuant to Section 2, Paragraph 1 (i) and (ii) of the Unfair Competition Prevention Law.

A mark that is used for retail services or wholesale services can be registered as a service mark.

Japan is a member of WIPO since 1975. Also, Japan is a member of the Madrid Agreement since July 8, 1953 and the Madrid Protocol since March 14, 2000.

With 117,000 trademark applications filed each year, only 25.000 are filed by foreign applicants, which demonstrates the understanding of how important the trademarks are for local businesses. You can access additional information regarding IP statistics in Japan here.

Procedure & Requirements

Fill out our simple trademark registration application online in just 5 minutes and a Trademark Search Specialist will contact you within 24 hours in order to guide you through the process.

Multiple-class applications are possible for Japanese trademarks.

If a trademark contains geographical names, the products it is used on must originate from the named country/territory. For example, if the trademark contains the word "USA", the goods must be produced in the USA.

A power of attorney is not required at the time of filing a new application. However, the power of attorney is required in some special situations, such as demanding an appeal and responding to the Notification Refusal with respect to the International Registration etc.

At the time of filing an application with the JPO, the designated goods and designated services should be written in the Japanese language.

The typical reasons for trademark registration refusal are the cases in which:

• goods/services are not designated in accordance with the classification of goods;
• the content and scope of designated goods/services are not clear;
• the current use or the intention to use of a trademark needs to be confirmed with regard to the designated goods or designated services claimed in applications. 

These are the main reasons for objections in Japan.

What is registrable as a trademark in Japan?

All distinctive and graphically representable signs are registrable as a trademark:

1. words;
2. graphics;
3. symbols;
4. colors;
5. combination of colors;
6. combination of signs;
7. three-dimensional forms;
8. any combination of the mentioned signs.

Sounds, movements, holograms and position marks can be registered as well.

Required Elements to File Your Brand

1. Type of the applicant: individual or a company.
2. Complete name of the owner.
3. Full address of the business owner.
4. Phone number - to contact you in case if any action is required.
5. Mailing address - to forward you the certificate once the trademark is registered.
6. List of goods/services.
7. Class or classes.
8. Trademark itself.

Procedure Overview

A straightforward trademark registration process takes 4-8 months. Our attorney will file your trademark within 7 business days, after receiving the required details. The application number is issued within 3 days after filing a trademark registration application.

The application process includes a formal examination and a substantial examination: an examination of distinctiveness and a search for prior trademarks.

Signs not deemed distinctive in the examination can be registered if distinctiveness has been acquired by use.

• Filing - 7 days
• Formal examination - 1 month
• Publication in the Trademark Gazette (Shohyou Koukai Kouhou) - 2 months
• Substantive examination - 3 months
• Issuance of the registration certificate - 1 month
• Publication in the Trademark Gazette - 3 months

Basically, the JPO does not request the applicants to file any evidence of the use of the mark.

However, if the applicants designate many categories of goods/services in one class, the applicant has to file evidence of the use of the mark in Japan or a declaration showing intent to use of the mark and a business plan in order to obtain registration.

Duration: How Long Will it Take?

Trademark registration in Japan is valid for ten years starting from the registration date. The registration is renewable for periods of 10 years. Beginning 3 years following the registration date, registration will become vulnerable to non-use cancellation.

If after the registration date, the trademark is not used by the owner or its licensee for a 3-consecutive-year period, the trademark can be cancelled.

It is crucial to use the mark properly in Japan.

Trademark renewal in Japan

The trademarks' renewal (as well as their registration) in Japan is the Intellectual Property Department responsibility. Foreign citizens and companies must act through local patent attorneys. 

An application must be translated into Japanese. You can renew the trademark validity an unlimited number of times.

Cost to Register

The official fee for filing an application is JPY 12,000.00 for first class and JPY 8,600 for each additional class. The official fee for filing a defensive application is JPY 24,000 and JPY 17,200 for each additional class.

The registration fee is JPY 28,200 with an effect of April 1, 2016.

There is no publication fee.

The payment of registration fee must be made within 30 days from the date on which a copy of the decision or the trial decision to grant a trademark registration has been transmitted.

If the registration fee is not paid during the period, the trademark application will be dismissed.