January 13, 2011
1. Information We Need for Filing a Trademark Application
- The trademark
- The description/list of goods and/or services
- The full name of the applicant
- The full non-abbreviated address of the applicant.
- Application number and filing date of priority application, if any.
The priority can be claimed if the first application was filed in a foreign country within the last six months. A power of attorney is not required, unless the case is appealed or opposed in the future.
2. Description of Goods and Services
The JPO published "Acceptable Descriptions of Goods and Services." The JPO is very strict in description of goods and services. The International standard goods/services are often objected as well. If the actual goods or services correspond to those in "Acceptable Descriptions of Goods and Services", those descriptions should be used.
If the actual goods or services do not correspond to any Acceptable Descriptions, the goods or services should be listed specifically and the application should accompany a detailed explanation of the goods or services, such as pamphlets or print out of websites, so that the examiner clearly understands the goods or services. During prosecution, the applicant can limit, but cannot broaden nor shift goods and services. At the time of filing, it is recommended to add broad identification of goods and services to support future limitation, especially when the actual goods or services do not correspond to the "Acceptable Descriptions."
3. Time Schedule
Preliminary trademark search One week
Filing a trademark application Few days
Examination by JPO Four to eight months (for the first office action)
4. Fee Schedule
(1) Filing an Application
Filing fee (one class)
| Basic Fee | 79,000 (or 59,000 *) |
| Official Fee: | 12,000 |
| Disbursement | 3,000 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |
| Total | 94,000 |
Additional fee for additional classes
| Our Fee | 40,000 per class |
| Official Fee | 8,600 per class |
* The basic fee is 59,000 for additional trademarks filed together for the same goods and services. The basic fee for the first application becomes 59,000 as well, if all goods are selected from the “Acceptable descriptions of Goods and Services,” explained in 2. above.
(2) Response to a Provisional Refusal (of either Domestic or International Application)
| Docketing and reporting the refusal | 0 |
| Filing a response | 20,000 + 25,000 per hour |
| Filing an extension of time | 12,000 |
| Official fee for an extension of time | 2,100 |
(3) Registration Fee (for ten years) after an Allowance
| Our fee | 23,000 |
| Official fee | 37,600 per class |
(4) Trademark Searches
| Word mark | 20,000 per class |
For the filing, please feel free to use our online application form prepared at application form. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Thank you.
Truly yours,
Aki Ryuka
The chart below shows the steps in prosecution of a trade mark application in Japan.
