Japan: Amendments to the IP legislation

Patent and Utility Model Acts as well as the Examination Guidelines have been revised and came into effect on April 1, 2015. As a result post–grant patent opposition system was re-introduced.

 

Amendment to the design system concerns Japan’s accession to the Hague Convention and now it will be possible to obtain the design protection in over 64 countries through filing one single international design application via the Hague System from May 13, 2015.

 

Upon revision of Trademark Act since April 2015 the sound marks, colour marks, hologram marks, moving marks and position marks may be registered as a trademark in Japan.

 

To get an actual quote for IP protection in Japan please visit our quotation system.

 

You are also welcome to review the brief applicant guide for registration of the IP rights in Japan: