• Trademark fees

Fees associated with filing trademark applications in Japan, as well as other trademark fees, are available in the fee calculator.

• Multiple-class applications

Multiple-class trademark applications are possible in Japan.

• Filing requirements in Japan

To obtain the filing date, a trademark application in Japan should contain:
- a request to register a trademark in Japan;
- representation of a trademark;
- the list of goods and services.

A certified copy of the Priority Document must be submitted within three months from the filing date of a trademark application in Japan. A translation of the front page into Japanese is required.

The Power of Attorney is not required for trademark registration in Japan. It is required to provide a POA for some special proceedings, such as assignment and appeal filing.

• Publication, opposition and examination of a trademark application in Japan

Trademark applications in Japan are examined as to distinctiveness and a search for prior trademarks is conducted. The first publication of the trademark application occurs after filing (approximately one month after). Trademark is published for the second time after registration. An opposition against a trademark registration in Japan may be filed by an interested party within two months from the date of its publication on condition of payment of the corresponding fee.

• Grant, validity term and trademark renewal

The official grant fee should be paid within thirty days from the date of receipt of the Notice of Allowance. The validity term of a trademark in Japan is 10 years from the registration date. It can be renewed every ten years by paying a renewal fee within six months before the expiration date. It may also be renewed within six months after the renewal due date. Restoration of the renewal fee payment is possible in case of non-intentional delay.

• Duration of registration procedure

Average time from filing up to registration of a trademark in Japan is 4-10 months.

• Use requirement

A trademark in Japan may be cancelled on the basis of non-use within a continuous period of 3 years if the corresponding request is filed to the court by an interested party.

• Representation by a trademark attorney

For foreign applicants, it is required to perform trademark prosecution in Japan through a registered Japanese trademark attorney.

•  Notes

1. Online Search Databases: Japanese Trademarks, International Trademarks.
2. The time limit to file a response to the provisional refusal of an international registration in Japan is three months. The calculation of the term starts on the date after the Japan Patent Office sends the provisional refusal to WIPO. There is an option to request an extension of this time limit. The language of the response is Japanese. For applicants not residing in Japan, it is necessary to appoint a local representative. The Office does not provide an opportunity for requesting a revision or filing an appeal.

Brief summary is based on the information provided by YuNeed International Patent Office on 05.02.2024
Please contact us if the above information is not in conformity with Japanese IP Laws