Q. I heard that it takes more than a year to obtain a trademark in Japan. Is there any way to obtain rights more quickly?
A. If you use the Accelerated Examination Request, you can obtain rights in about two months. However, certain conditions need to be met. Please contact us so we can check if you meet these conditions.
Q. When we got estimates from other law firms, the totall (Attorney fee + government fees + translation fees + fast track fee) fee’s average was $1600. But your estimate is only $590. Why do your services seem more affordable than others?
A. In order to offer our services at a reasonable price, we try to spend the least amount of money. For example, our offices are very small.
Also, we work mostly remotely to reduce transportation costs.
We also do not advertise. This is because patent attorney firms with fancy advertising end up having their expenses shouldered by their clients.
In this way, we keep our expenses to a minimum, and provide streamlined service at a reasonable price.
Q. Why do I Need an attorney to perform a Trademark Search?
A. While conducting a basic trademark search with a free database may give you an initial idea of whether a trademark is available, it may not uncover all potential conflicts. If you miss a conflict, you could face legal issues down the line, which can be costly and time-consuming to resolve.
Q. I am not using the trademark. Can I still get my trademark registered?
A. Yes, you can register your trademark in Japan if you declare your intention to use the trademark.
If you are interested in filing an application for an unregistered trademark of another, please provide details. Please be aware that we may decline your request, as this often leads to invalidation of rights or needless trouble later on.
As stated in our mission, our goal is to grow your business. To create any unnecessary hurdles for our clients is contrary to our philosophy.
Q. What is an opinion letter?
A. An opinion letter is a document for stating your opinion after receiving a notice of reasons for refusal from the Patent Office. An opinion letter cannot be written without knowledge of precedents and legal terminology, so you should ask a patent attorney to write it for you.
Sometimes a trademark can be registered with just an opinion, and sometimes an amendment must be submitted at the same time.
Q. I filed my own trademark application. I received a Notice of Reason for Refusal. Can you write an opinion letter for me?
A. Yes, we can. Please feel free to contact us.
Q. I filed an international application using the Madrid Protocol. I received a Notice of Reason for Refusal in Japan among the designated countries.
Can I ask you to handle the correspondence with the Japanese Patent Office?
A. Of course.
Q. Can I pay via PayPal or Wise?
A. Yes. We also accept payment by bank transfer, credit card and other methods. However we recommend that you use a method that allows us to confirm the amount of payment immediately, since the application will be filed only after we confirm the payment.
We recommend Wise. Because Wise’s remittance fee is the lowest. If you register through this link, a portion of the remittance fee will be waived.
Q. Can I pay in my country’s local currency?
A. For US dollars, Canadian dollars, New Zealand dollars, Singapore dollars, Turkish lira, Hungarian forints, Romanian lei, and euros, you can send money in that currency.
Q. What are the fees for trademark applications and registrations at the Japan Patent and Trademark Office?
A. Please refer to this website.
Japan IP office fees
Q. We have found a previously registered trademark that is similar to the trademark for which we are seeking registration. Can I get my trademark registered?
A. Even if a similar trademark exists, there are several ways to obtain a trademark(e.g. Trial) which you can explore if your trademark is important to your business. However, it will cost you a fee,which is not cheap, and thus we recommend that you change your trademark altogether if you can.
Q. What is an accelerated examination?
A. Normally, it takes more than a year to register a trademark in Japan, but if you file an Accelerated Examination Request, you can obtain a trademark in about two months.
Q. I have received a trademark infringement warning. Can you help me?
A. Yes. Please contact us immediately.
Q. I found someone infringing my trademark in Japan. Please write a warning letter.
A. Please contact us with the necessary information.
Q. Can I consult you about something other than trademarks?
A. Of course. We are happy to consult with you on copyrights, patents, designs, domains, and anything else related to intellectual property.
Q. When can I renew my trademark registration in Japan?
A. Trademark registration is valid for ten years in most countries worldwide, including Japan. In most countries, including Japan, applying for a trademark renewal can be done during the six months before the expiry date of your trademark registration.
If you are looking to apply for a trademark renewal, just text us!
Q. Can trademark rights be established without registration?
A. The Unfair Competition Prevention Act protects well-known trademarks without registration. Other trademarks are not protected without registration.
Q. Is marking mandatory for registered trademearks? Are there risks of not using tm or ?
A. Marking is not mandatory for registered trademarks in Japan. “TM” is used as a marking of a trademark(not registered), and ® is the marking of a registered trademark. If your trademark is not registered in Japan,don’t use “R”. Because any person who affixes false or misleading marking shall be punished.
Q. Can you represent me in the payment of patent or trademark annuities to the Japan Patent Office?
A. Of course. The patent or trademark attorney fee is $45 per patent or trademark.