Comprehensive Guide to Trademark Registration in Japan Full Process from Application to Management

Comprehensive Guide to Japanese Trademark Registration From Application to Management

With the acceleration of globalization, more and more companies choose to expand their businesses in the Japanese market. To protect their brand rights, trademark registration has become an essential task. This article will provide a detailed explanation of the entire process of Japanese trademark registration, including application, review, registration, and subsequent management. It will also combine relevant news information to help you better understand this process.

First, at the application stage, enterprises need to clarify their trademark categories and specific needs. According to the regulations of the Japan Patent Office JPO, trademarks can cover various forms such as text, graphics, color combinations, etc. At the same time, applicants must ensure that the applied-for trademark has distinctiveness, meaning it can distinguish the source of goods or services. It is worth noting that if the trademark is too similar to an existing one, it may be rejected. For example, in 2025, an international brand failed to pass the preliminary review because its submitted trademark design was considered highly similar to another well-known brand. Before submitting an application, enterprises should conduct sufficient market research and inquiries.

After completing the preparatory work, the formal application process begins. Currently, Japanese trademark registration can be done either online or offline. Online applications are more convenient and efficient, allowing users to upload required documents by logging into the JPO website. These documents typically include trademark drawings, lists of goods/services, and proof of application fees. It is worth noting that although online operations simplify procedures, some details still require careful verification to avoid major mistakes. For example, last year, a Chinese company's application was delayed for several months due to inaccurate classification of goods.

Next is the crucial review stage. The Japan Patent Office will conduct two parts of evaluation formality review and substantive review. Formality review mainly checks whether the materials are complete and the format is correct; while substantive review focuses on determining whether the trademark is registrable. This phase may take six to eight months. If problems are found during the review process, the applicant must respond within the specified period. Recently, media reports stated that a well-known restaurant chain had to revise its application because it failed to provide sufficient evidence supporting the uniqueness of its trademark. Therefore, timely response to review opinions is crucial for improving the approval rate.

Once the trademark successfully passes the review, it enters the announcement period. During this period, the public has the right to raise objections. The announcement period generally lasts for two months, and anyone who believes that the trademark infringes on their rights can submit an objection application. If there are objections, further communication and negotiation between both parties, or even legal means, may be necessary to resolve the issue. Statistics show that in recent years, the number of disputes caused by objections has increased, which also reminds enterprises to act cautiously when applying.

When the announcement period ends without any objections or the objections are rejected, the trademark will officially obtain the qualification for registration. At this point, the applicant will receive a registration certificate issued by the JPO and pay the corresponding registration fee. Thus, the entire registration process is basically completed. However, this does not mean the end of the work. On the contrary, subsequent management and maintenance are equally important.

The validity period of a trademark is ten years, and it can be renewed upon expiration. During the renewal process, enterprises need to pay attention to maintaining the actual use status of the trademark, otherwise it may lead to the loss of trademark rights. With increasing market competition, regularly monitoring competitors' behavior has become particularly important. For example, at the beginning of this year, a domestic sports brand lost market share due to failing to promptly discover and address potential infringement behaviors. Establishing a sound trademark management system not only helps consolidate its own position but also effectively prevents risks.

In summary, Japanese trademark registration is a complex but necessary task. Every step from the initial application to the final management requires enterprises to invest sufficient energy and resources. It is hoped that this article can provide clear guidance for enterprises and help them achieve greater success in overseas markets.