The JPO is making its procedures for examining trademark applications that have been preceded by defectively filed applications more transparent after some confusion that caught up the media in Japan. Defective (often, with official fees unpaid) applications frequently are attempts…
Read more
Question: Is there any renewal requirement in Japan? Answer: No. There is no specific renewal requirement in Japan. Upon paying the second part payment, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) issues the Certificate of Registration. When a Provisional Refusal is not…
Read more
Rumours have grown in Japan surrounding the delay of Pokemon GO’s release date in Japan, and recently many of those have focused on JPO’s recent rejection against the trademark of Pokemon GO in Japan. It turns out that the trademark…
Read more
The JPO has adopted an individual fee consisting of two parts. The application will be cancelled if the second part of the individual fee is not paid within the period indicated in the NOTIFICATION OF SECOND PART OF INDIVIDUAL FEE.
The Japanese Examination Guidelines for trademarks has been updated again (rev. 12th ed.). This new edition’s standards will go into effect from April 1, 2016. The revisions clarify various types of allowable trademarks, as well as updated information based on…
Read more
Since April 1, 2015, the JPO has been accepting non-traditional trademark applications. Such applications are categorized as Sounds, Motions, Positions, Holograms, or Colors. Some of the first applications have been approved for registration as of October 27, 2015. If you…
Read more
The Japan Patent Office has decided to adopt the 10th Edition of the International Classification of the Nice Agreement from January 1, 2012. Accordingly, the Examination Guideline of Similar Goods and Services issued by the Japan Patent Office has also…
Read more
The applicant must submit to the Patent Office directly or by mail an application for trademark registration having the following requirements: The applicant’s full name, address and nationality. Details of the mark. If the mark consists of only plain block…
Read more
MADRID PROTOCOL, Responding to the Notification of the Provisional Refusal with Japan
by Yoshiko Osawa, International Trademark SpecialistIn October 2009, the Japanese Patent Office (JPO) revised the trademark examination guidelines to add a section on the handling of trademarks which use names of historical figures. In the past, the Japanese Trademark Law…
Read more