Japan - Apply for Trademark

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Procedure

Following listed steps explains the process that are involved in applying for a Trademark.

1. As a first step to register a Trademark, the applicant has to fill out an appropriate application form and submit them to the Japan Patent Office (JPO). Application forms can be found under the following link : Application Forms
2. The JPO will publish the content of an application in the Official Gazette after filing.
3. The Trademarks presented will be formally and substantively examined to make sure whether it fulfils all the necessary requirements and the Trademark provides a meaningful explanation. If the application didnt fulfill the necessary requirements the applicant will be called in to get the application rectified.
4. Where an application fails to meet the substantive requirements, a notification of reasons for refusal will be sent to the applicant.
5. The applicant can submit either a written argument against a notification of reasons for refusal or an amendment that would nullify the reasons for refusal.
6. If it is ultimately judged that there are no reasons for refusal, a decision to register a trademark will be made.
7. If a written argument and an amendment cannot eliminate the reasons for refusal, and if the examiner judges that the trademark cannot be registered, a decision of refusal will be made.
8. When dissatisfaction is in the decision of refusal of the examiner, the applicant may appeal against the decision of refusal.
9. If the Trademark has been approved by the judge to be registered, the registration fee should be paid. With the payment of the registration fee, the registration of the trademark right will take place and the trademark right will come into force.
10. As for the trademark right which has been registered and come into force, the contents are published on the trademark gazette.
11. Any person may file an opposition to the decision to register a trademark with the Commissioner of the JPO.

Note : Even after a trademark is registered, any person may appeal for invalidation of the trademark if it has a flaw. Moreover, if the trademark has not been used after registration for three years or more, an appeal for revocation may be charged.

More information and flowchart view of the process can be obtained from the following link : More information and Flowchart View

More information about trademark registration can be obtained from the following link : More Information Trademark Registration

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Required Documents

List down the documents required for successfully completing the procedure.

e.g.
1. Proof of child birth from the Hospital.

Office Locations & Contacts

Following link provides contact information of appropriate offices that has to be contacted : Japan Patent Office (JPO) Contact Information

Eligibility

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Fees

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Fees Information
More Fees Information

Validity

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e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

Application forms to be used can be obtained from the following link : Application Forms

Sample Documents

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Processing Time

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Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M". 
	

Instructions

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e.g. The state office holds birth records since january 1908.

Required Information

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e.g.
1. Date of Birth.
2. City or County of Birth.

Need for the Document

This procedure provides you information related to registering a trademark in Japan.

Information which might help

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Other uses of the Document/Certificate

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e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

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Others

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