Home  Services  Introduction to Japan Trademark Registration System

Introduction to Japan Trademark Registration System

【Font:L M S

Introduction to Japan Trademark Registration System


Official Office for Trade Mark Registration


Japan Patent Office (JPO)


Joined International Treaties for Trade Marks


Paris Convention; Trademark Law Treaty; Madrid Protocol; Singapore Treaty


Principle on Trade Mark Protection


Japan adopts "first-to-file" for trademark protection, and the Trademark Act of Japan protects merely the registered trademarks.


If a registered trademark is used by someone else without authorization and/or license, the trademark owner can simply take an infringement action.


For un-registered marks, it is necessary to engage the point of “well-known” or “famous”, and court action can be taken under the Unfair Competition Prevention Act.


Kinds of Registrable Trade Marks


In Japan, the term “trademark” includes word mark, device mark, 3D mark, their combination, and some non-conventional trademarks, such as motion mark, hologram mark, color per se mark, sound mark and position mark.


In addition, there are special trademarks are enacted and protected, such as “certification mark”, “grade trademarks”, “collective trademark” and “regional brand”.


Required Information and Documents


1. Applicant’s name, address, nationality / company’s registered country;
2. Specimen of the mark to be applied;
3. List of goods/services to be applied, and the class(es);
4. Translation & transliteration of foreign language in the mark; and
5. Priority document, if any.


Timeframe and Procedure for Application


If the application goes smoothly, the whole registration procedure takes about 6-10 months.


A trademark application in Japan usually takes about 6-9 months for examination, at the meantime, it will also published for opposition purpose. If there is no any refusal and/or opposition, a registration certificate will be issued within 1 month upon payment of the official registration fee.


Duration and Renewal of Registration


A trade mark registration in Japan is valid for 10 years from the date of application, which can be renewed every 10 years, from 6 months before the renewal due date or up to 6 months after the date expires.


Cancellation System


If a registered trademark has not been actual used in Japan by the owner or with his consent, in relation to the goods or services for which it is registered, for a continuous period of at least 3 years, and there are no valid reasons for non-use, any third party can apply for revocation to cancel/remove the registration.


Relevant Information:


If you wish to obtain more information or assistance, please visit the official website of Kaizen CPA Limited at www.kaizencpa.com or contact us through the following and talk to our professionals:
Email: info@kaizencpa.com,  enquiries@kaizencpa.com
Tel: +852 2341 1444
Mobile : +852 5616 4140, +86 152 1943 4614
WhatsApp/ Line/ Wechat: +852 5616 4140
Skype: kaizencpa

Japan Trademark Registration Costs and Procedures

SERVICES

SHARE

Language

繁體中文

简体中文

日本語

close