PATENTS
Patents/utility models
October Issue [Legal Affairs] Newsletter Summary of the User Evaluation Survey Report on the Quality of Trademark Examinations in FY2026 The Japan Patent Office has compiled the "User Evaluation Survey Report on the Quality of Trademark Examinations in FY2026" (published in September 2026). This survey assessed the overall quality of trademark examinations conducted by the Japan Patent Office in FY2025, based on feedback from users such as applicants and agents.
October Issue [General] Newsletter The 16th Japan-ASEAN Intellectual Property Offices Meeting and Singapore IP Week 2026 On August 26, the 16th Japan-ASEAN Intellectual Property Offices Meeting was held in Singapore, with the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the intellectual property offices of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries participating.
September Issue [Legal Affairs] Newsletter The Design System Subcommittee (July 29) outlines the direction of design protection In recent years, with the advancement of VR and AR technologies, transactions of 3D models, avatars, and virtual spaces (worlds) in virtual spaces (metaverse) have become more active. In response to this, the Japan Patent Office's Design System Subcommittee, on July 29, outlined the direction of design protection for virtual spaces
September Issue [General] Newsletter: Annual Report on Patent Administration 2026 Edition The Japan Patent Office announced on July 27th that it had compiled the Annual Report on Patent Administration 2026 Edition. According to the Annual Report on Patent Administration 2026 Edition, the number of patent applications filed with the Japan Patent Office had remained flat since 2020, but in 2025 it increased by 16.8% year-on-year to 35
To use product names, service names, company names, store names, logos, etc., with confidence, it is important to consider trademark registration. The trademark registration process involves deciding on the trademark you want to register, researching existing trademarks, selecting the category of goods and services, and submitting a trademark registration application to the Japan Patent Office. After that, the application undergoes examination by the Japan Patent Office, and a registration decision is made.
August Issue [General] Newsletter Standard Strategy Response Review (Trial) In order to appropriately monetize intellectual property as a result of research and development and turn it into "earning power," and to achieve both market acquisition and market expansion, it is effective to appropriately promote the integrated use of standardization and intellectual property by combining research and development with secrecy, rights acquisition (patents, etc.), and standardization.
August Issue [Legal Affairs] Newsletter Summary of WIPO Notification Regarding UK's Ratification of the Madrid Protocol to Jersey On May 12, 2026, the British government deposited with WIPO a declaration extending its ratification of the Madrid Protocol to the Jersey jurisdiction. This extension will take effect on August 1, 2026. From that date onward, the UK's designated
This article explains the three eligibility requirements for expedited trademark examination, application methods and fees, evidence of use, examination period, ineligible applications, and points to note when using a trademark, based on the current procedures of the Japan Patent Office after the October 2025 revision. Even after filing a trademark registration application, trademark rights do not immediately arise. Registration decisions must be made after examination by the Japan Patent Office.
Supervised by Patent Attorney Hiroshi Moriyama: When considering trademark registration, it is important to search for identical or similar prior trademarks before filing an application. If a candidate name is already registered, not only may your trademark application be rejected, but using that name for goods or services may infringe on the trademark rights of others.
The necessity of obtaining trademark rights overseas Trademark rights, in principle, arise on a country-by-country basis, and their effect is limited to the country or region where they are registered. Even if a trademark is registered in Japan, that right is not automatically recognized overseas in the United States, China, Europe, ASEAN countries, etc. Therefore, the necessity of obtaining trademark rights overseas