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In Japan, approximately 12 trademark applications are filed each year, and approximately 10 are registered each year. Why are so many trademarks filed?
This is because, regardless of the company's size or industry, as long as there is commercial transactions, there will always be trademarks, and they need to be protected in the form of trademark rights.
Necessity of acquiring trademark rights
Regarding acquisition of trademark rights,
- "Trademark registration has nothing to do with individual businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises."
- "No one will file a complaint even if it infringes on trademark rights."
- "If you receive a complaint for trademark infringement, you can simply change your name."
- “No one will imitate me.”
- “We are confident in our products, and the name has no bearing on sales.”
- "Trademark registration is too expensive"
Don't you think so?
None of these are correct (it depends on how you think about costs...).
Let me briefly explain why.
[1] Trademark registration is irrelevant for sole proprietorships and small and medium-sized enterprises.
The size of the company does not matter when registering a trademark. The company name, product name, advice for individuals and small and medium-sized businesses in general, and service names that you use are all trademarks and must be protected by yourself. The first step is trademark registration.
In fact, many individuals and small and medium-sized businesses have registered trademarks.
[2] No one will file a complaint even if trademark rights are infringed.
A few years ago, as long as you were doing small business, you might not have been discovered or complained by trademark owners. However, in today's age of the Internet, this cannot be said.
You will be advertising your products and services through the Internet yourself, and you never know where your products will become popular and spread by word of mouth. When this happens, trademark owners do not remain silent.
[3] If you receive a complaint for trademark infringement, you can simply change your name at that time.
It is true that if you change the name, the trademark infringement will be resolved at that point. However, damages already caused to the trademark right owner due to the infringement will be claimed as damages. Not only will the compensation amount be painful, but you will also suffer major losses if you are involved in an infringement lawsuit in the first place.
Also, if you change your name every time, you will not be able to develop your core product and you will not be able to gain the trust of your customers.
[4] No one will imitate you
Good or bad products and naming are completely different things. Even if they don't copy your product, there is a good chance that they will like your company name and product name and copy your product.
Even if you thought of the name and used it first, if someone else registers the trademark first, you will become the infringer of the trademark right (there are remedies, but it is extremely difficult to do so). It Is difficult).
[5] We are confident in our products, and the name has no bearing on sales.
In today's world of Internet sales, people often purchase products without actually holding them in person.
If someone else notices your excellent product and sells an inferior product online under the same name, customers may rely on that name and think it is your product and purchase it.
The person who purchases the inferior product will not only be at a disadvantage, but also lose trust in you.
[6] Trademark registration costs too much money
It is true that trademark registration costs money. However, by registering your trademark, you can eliminate the risks mentioned above and be able to use your company's name and product name with peace of mind.
Once a trademark is registered, the right is valid for 10 years (and can be renewed), so if you think of it as "insurance" that costs tens of thousands of yen a year, it's not expensive at all.
In this way, trademark registration provides solid protection so that you can do business with peace of mind.
Not only that, but if you register your trademark, you will be able to eliminate counterfeit products that imitate your name, so customers can purchase your products with peace of mind. In other words, trademark registration not only protects you, but is also a service that allows customers to purchase products with peace of mind.
”HARAKENZO more ” supports individuals and small and medium-sized businesses.
From the above, I think you can fully understand the importance of trademark registration. The next step is how to register a trademark. You may be thinking that it is difficult, but please leave it to us.
We will support you in trademark registration so that you can properly protect your business and continue your business with peace of mind.”HARAKENZO more " We specialize in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises.Venture/cocreation Support Station”, so please feel free to contact us.