Patent Registration in Japan

Cost

Patent application fee JPY64,000
(Total fee upon filing consists of official fee of JPY14,000 and attorney’s fee of JPY50,000).

The wealth of experience garnered as an Examiner at the Japan Patent Office by one of our consultants has enhanced our practice as we strive to provide appropriate professional advice and support to meet your needs.

We assist in

• Preparing and filing Japanese National Phase of international patent applications
• Prosecuting Japan patent applications up to grant of patent
• Paying annuities for patents

*1: This is the basic official fee pertaining to one claim. There is an additional fee of JPY3,600 for each additional claim.
*2: This is the basic official fee pertaining to one claim. There is an additional fee of JPY600 for each additional claim.
※Miscellaneous fees are not covered in the above list.
※Forwarding a Patent Certificate by courier mail will be added to the indicated amounts.

Prosecution Fee
Our fee for prosecuting an application towards grant of patent ranges between JPY100,000 and 200,000.

Translation
A Japanese translation of the original patent application filed in English must be submitted within two (2) months from the actual national phase filing date or thirty (30) months from the priority date, whichever is later. We can prepare the English-Japanese translation at a cost of JPY30/word. We provide high quality translation services and strictly apply a “double check” procedure conducted by our patent attorneys.

To File a Patent Application

1. Fill in the contact form and send it to us by e-mail or fax.
2. Send the duly signed Power of Attorney (POA) to us by post.


　　　　


3. Upon receipt of your order, we will send you an invoice for advance payment of the official and attorney’s fees for filing the application.
4. Once we have confirmed your payment, we will immediately prepare the patent application documents.
5. We will e-mail you the prepared patent application documents for your approval before filing.

Notification

All documents issued by the Japan Patent Office other than the Patent certificate will be sent to you by e-mail or facsimile.

Payment Method

For your convenience, we accept the following forms of payment:

1. PAYPAL (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover)






An additional PayPal service charge (approx. 4%) will be charged on the total fees.

Zen International Patents and Trademarks utilizes PayPal's online payment gateway to safely and securely process on-line credit card transactions. All transaction data is hosted in PayPal's highly-secure, fully-redundant risk-free data center.

2. Wire transfers

Contact Us

Flow Chart

Procedure for Obtaining a Patent

FAQ

1. What is the term of protection of Japanese patents?
   A Japanese patent has a term of 20 years counted from the filing date of the Japan national phase application.
2. How soon after filing an application in Japan do I need to file a request for examination?
   You must submit the request within three (3) years from the filing date of the original foreign patent application or the international filing date, in case of a PCT application.
3. Can computer software be patented in Japan?
   Yes. Since the 2002 amendment to Article 2 (3) of the Japan Patent Act, computer programs have been recognized as product inventions.
4. As a foreign applicant, do I need to appoint a professional representative in Japan?
   Yes. If you do not have a residential or business address in Japan, you must appoint a patent attorney registered with the Japan Patent Office (JPO) to represent you before it.
5. Can I claim priority for an application filed in Japan?
   Yes. The priority period is 12 months counted from the earliest priority date claimed, as stipulated in the Paris Convention. Japan has been a member of the Paris Convention since 15 July 1899.
6. What do I need to do to get an early filing date in Japan?
   It is not (yet) possible to file provisional specifications in Japan. This means that you will need to file the complete specification of your invention to get a filing date.
7. When is the first office action usually issued by the Japan Patent Office?
   According to the JPO 2009 Annual Report, the average time it takes before the first office action is issued is 28.5 months from the filing date of the request for examination.
8. What is the time limit for responding to an official action related to substantive examination of the application?
   The time limit for responding to an official action involving substantive examination of the application is three (3) months from the issuance date of the action. It is possible to apply for a three-month extension of the response period. The same time limit applies to the filing of a response to an opposition.
9. Do I have to do anything in order that my patent will remain valid?
   Yes. You must pay the annual fee or annuity beginning from the first anniversary of the grant of patent.

Profile

Takayuki Takamatsu
Patent & Trademark Attorney
Master of Nuclear Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology

Shortly after passing the licensure exam for patent attorneys, Takayuki Takamatsu first joined an IP law firm for a few years, and then worked for the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), one of the largest public research organizations in Japan engaged in the creation and application of useful technologies in life science and biotechnology, materials and chemistry, electronics and manufacturing, energy and the environment, among others. As Technology Licensing Manager at AIST, Takamatsu directly participated and managed negotiations for patent licensing. Takamatsu’s stint at AIST also enabled him to acquire extensive experience in patent prosecution and litigation in the fields of materials science, chemistry, mechanical engineering, software and computer systems.
Takamatsu co-founded Zen Patent and Trademark Attorneys with TOKUKO SUZUKI.

Tokuko Suzuki
Patent & Trademark Attorney
Bachelor of Economics, Hitotsubashi University

Tokuko Suzuki initially worked for Walt Disney Japan (WDJ) for five years where she obtained considerable experience in merchandise licensing and branding. In 2002, she joined Wenping & Company, a private firm dedicated to servicing the IP rights protection requirements of Japanese companies globally, and where her WDJ involvement in merchandise licensing proved highly useful in providing consultancy advice and support in overseas trademark registration and trademark portfolio management for Japanese client firms.
Tokuko Suzuki established Zen Patent and Trademark Attorneys with TAKAYUKI TAKAMATSU.

Access

House MIDORI Bld. 101 6-14, kamiochiai 2-chome, Shinjuku-ku Tokyo 161-0034 Japan