Trademark Registration in Japan | Zen International Patents and Trademarks

Cost

Phase		Attorney’s Fee	Official Fee
Filing application	1 Class	JPY30,000	JPY12,000
Filing application	Additional Class	JPY10,000	JPY8,600
Upon registration (10-year duration)	1 Class	JPY15,000	JPY28,200
Upon registration (10-year duration)	Additional Class	N/A	JPY28,200

NOTE:
※Attorney’s fee upon registration is JPY15,000 regardless of number of classes.
※Costs shown in the table do not involve prosecution fees i.e. filing response to office action. If you require detailed information, please contact us.
※Please note that the fee for translation (from English into Japanese) of JPY1,000 per 100 words will be charged in case of many goods/services (100 words or more). Also, cost for forwarding a Trademark Certificate by courier mail will be charged.
※Miscellaneous fees are not covered in the above list.

Table of Costs

	Filing application		Upon registration		Total
No. of Classes	Attorney’s Fee	Official Fee	Attorney’s Fee	Official Fee	Total
1	JPY30,000	JPY12,000	JPY15,000	JPY28,200	JPY85,200
2	JPY40,000	JPY20,600	JPY15,000	JPY56,400	JPY132,000
3	JPY50,000	JPY29,200	JPY15,000	JPY84,600	JPY178,800

Optional Service

Prior to filing an application, we can conduct a trademark availability search for similar or identical trademarks previously filed or registered. We will prepare a search report on the chances of successful registration along with recommendations to assist in your decision-making. Normally, the search results will be sent to you by e-mail within 5 business days from date of receipt of your instruction.

Type of Trademark	Attorney’s Fee
Word	JPY35,000/Class
Device	JPY50,000/Class
Combination (Word + Device)	JPY75,000/Class

To File a Trademark Application

First, you should determine the class or classes where your desired products and/or services fall into. The Japan Patent Office publishes a list of Acceptable Description of Goods and Services as Examination Guidelines for similar goods and services, which constitute uniform standards for all trademark examiners, and all examinations for similarity of goods or services are in principle conducted in accordance with these Guidelines. Therefore, to facilitate examination of your application, we strongly recommend that you define your goods and/or services along with the class or classes using the Guidelines.

If your goods or services are new and/or not listed in the Guidelines, we may ask you to provide a detailed explanation to enable us to understand the nature and scope thereof and in turn clarify the same to the examiner in charge of your application.
Likewise, in case we need to conduct an extensive review of your desired goods or services, additional fees may be incurred depending on the level of difficulty.
Fill in the contact form and send it to us by e-mail or fax.
Send the duly signed Power of Attorney (POA) to us by post.

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.
Once we have confirmed your payment, we will immediately prepare the trademark application documents.
We will e-mail you the prepared trademark application documents for your approval before filing.

Requirements

Information Required for Filing a Trademark Application

If an individual, applicant's full name and address. If a business enterprise, the applicant’s name, address and type (i.e., corporation, non-profit organization, foundation, etc.).
Applicant's nationality
Facsimile of trademark (for a figurative mark),
Image data - JPEG (full color): 200dpi (1181x1181 dots or less) or GIF/BMP: 400dpi (2362x2362 dots or less)
Goods and/or Services
(Optional) Check the box if you desire a trademark search.
(Optional) In case of priority claim, the application number, filing date, and country
Relative to item 6, Certificate of Priority issued by the Patent Office of the country in which the first application was filed (within three months from the filing date of the Japanese application).

FAQ

How long does it take for a trademark to be registered?
It usually takes about 6 months to obtain a trademark registration if no office actions are issued. If a "Notice of Reasons for Rejection" is issued, processing will take longer depending on the Examiner’s discretion.
What is the duration of a registered trademark right
A registered trademark right is valid for ten years counted from the date of registration of the trademark. The period may be renewed every ten years.
Is proof of use required to obtain trademark registration?
In Japan, trademark use is not required to obtain registration of the mark. Likewise, proof of use is not required at the time of renewal of registration. However, evidence of use must be submitted if a non-use cancellation request is filed against a registration.

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.

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.