TRADEMARKS

2018.11.28

About the Japanese Trademark Registration System

Period of protection

Trademarks are valid for 10 years from the date of registration. Trademarks can be renewed every 10 years.

Payment in installments

Trademark holders can pay fees for the 10-year lifespan in two installments every five years.
In practical terms, this allows you to renew trademarks every five years.

Scope of protection

Typical trademarks consist of text, logos, symbols, and other elements. However, trademarks featuring three-dimensional shapes, sounds, positions, colors, and holograms, are also subject to protection.

Examination

Apart from similarities and distinctive characteristics in comparison with prior trademarks, trademarks are examined on whether they are recognizable by third parties and whether they conflict with any famous or public trademarks. If the examiner issues reasons for refusal, you can submit a written opinion in response.

Period of examination

Currently, it takes 5 to 10 months from the filing of an application to the first examination result.
However, if the applicant (licensee) already uses or has prepared to a considerable extent to use the trademark for at least some of the designated goods and/or services in Japan and filed an application for the same trademark in any other countries other than Japan, it is possible to use Accelerated Examinations to shorten the examination period.
The examination period under Accelerated Examinations is currently about 3 months.
Please refer to this page or contact us for details on the conditions for applying Accelerated Examinations.

Trademark Registration Services from Minato Mirai Patent Firm

The largest total number of applications over the past 10 years

We are proud to be the largest firm in Japan, with over 24,700 trademark applications filed by our firm through 2012 to 2021.
On top of this experience, we also review the most recent developments and trends in the Japan Patent Office, in order to provide you with advice on how to get strong trademark rights, including suggestions about expressions of designated goods, in the timeliest and most appropriate manner.

The Highest Quality Search

Before submitting an application for consideration, we prepare a simple and easy-to-understand report on the likelihood of trademark registration. Our reports are written in English, and include our honest opinions and information on previously registered trademarks.

About Japanese Trademark Registration:

There are two options for registering trademarks in Japan: register the trademark in your home country, then have it registered internationally through the Madrid Protocol; or register your trademark directly in Japan, using a representative such as Minato Mirai Patent Firm to submit your application directly to the Japan Patent Office.

The former is applicable for other countries as well, not just Japan, so it is ideal for those wishing to apply for trademark in a number of countries using the single procedure. However, with this method it is difficult to perform pre-application checks focusing specifically on the Japan Patent Office, and there is therefore a higher risk of rejection, which leads to more time and money required for application.

You can minimize these risks by using a representative such as Minato Mirai Patent Firm to register your trademark directly with the Japan Patent Office.

*By following successful Japan Patent Office applications for the designated goods, we do our best to minimize the number of unnecessary rejection notices.
*By following results of recent applications and general trends at the Japan Patent Office, we do our best to minimize the number of unnecessary rejection notices.

Fees

A Clear and Reasonable Fee Structure
At Minato Mirai Patent Firm all of our service fees are clearly defined.

	Application fee		Registration fee for ten years		Total fee
Number of Class	Attorney’s fee	Official fee	Attorney’s fee	Official fee
1	JPY60,000	JPY12,000	JPY30,000	JPY32,900	JPY134,900
1	USD462	USD92	USD231	USD253	USD1,038
2	JPY105,000	JPY20,600	JPY30,000	JPY65,800	JPY221,400
2	USD808	USD158	USD231	USD506	USD1,703
3	JPY150,000	JPY29,200	JPY30,000	JPY98,700	JPY307,900
3	USD1,154	USD225	USD231	USD759	USD2,369

Exchange rate:1USD=130JPY (2023.02.27)

Search Fee:

Search :JPY20,000 (USD154) per class

Other Expenses:

Studying a rejection notice and providing comments:JPY20,000(USD154)
Responding to a rejection notice:JPY30,000~90,000(USD231~692)
(This fee is not charged if no rejection notices are sent.)
Bank transfer fee: Any bank fees for transferring money are to be paid by the client.

Response to refusal of an application for international registration (Madrid Protocol)

If you have received a notice of reasons for the refusal of an international application for trademark registration from the Japan Patent Office, you can leave us to submit a written amendment and opinion as well.

Studying a notice of reasons for the refusal and providing comments:JPY20,000(USD154)
Responding to a notice of reasons for the refusal:JPY30,000~90,000(USD231~692)

Based on a wealth of experience in responding to refusals, we will make appropriate responses and smoothly lead your application to success for you to acquire rights.