It is our pleasure to have an opportunity to introduce our firm to you. We, Welcome to Ito and Komoto IP Partners, are a Japanese IP law firm specialized in obtaining trademark and design registrations and their enforcement. Either a national trademark application or an international trademark application, we are pleased to assist you to obtain appropriate trademark and design protections in Japan. Should you have any cases, questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us . We are looking forward to working with you in relation to trademark cases, not only in Japan, but also in the world.
Firm Summary
We, Ito and Komoto IP Partners, are a Japanese IP law firm specialized in brand protections. We provide with services relating to not only trademarks but also design, copyright and unfair competitions.
[Name]
Ito and Komoto IP Partners (formerly known as Ito International Trademark and Patent Office)
[Address: Marunouchi Office]
Pacific Century Place Marunouchi 13F
1-11-1, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-6213 Japan
[Address: Odawara Office]
Workcation House U
77-1, Nebukawa, Odawara-shi, Kanagawa 250-0024 Japan
[Partners]
Daichi ITO, Trademark and Design Attorney
Akihiro KOMOTO, Trademark and Patent Attorney
[Contact]
Phone: +81-3-6712-0319
Email: contact[a]itokomoto.com
How to Protect Your Trademarks in Japan
To obtain protections for your trademark, it is necessary to be registered at the Japan Patent Office (the JPO) via filing a trademark application. You may file a trademark application to JPO directly or via the World Intellectual Property Organization (the WIPO).
National Trademark Applications in Japan
Where filing a national trademark application, it is required to proceed via a Japanese agent for foreign clients. Requirements for filing a trademark application are as below. No Power of Attorney (POA) is required for filing national trademark applications.
Requirement of filing a trademark application in Japan
- a mark to be filed (High-resolution JPEG format is recommended)
- class(es)
- goods and services to be designated
- applicant’s name, address and nationality (country of incorporation)
Additional requirements (Optional)
If a Convention Priority should be claimed, following information and document are also necessary. Please note that a trademark application claiming a Convention Priority must be filed within 6 months from the date of filing of the basic trademark application in your home country.
- filing date and number and country (at the timing of filing a trademark application in Japan)
- an original certificate of the Convention Priority (within 3 months from the date of filing of a trademark application in Japan)
International Trademark Applications Designating Japan
A holder of international registration may seek extension of protection to Japan under the Madrid Protocol. If the holder receives a Notification of Provisional Refusal from the JPO via the WIPO, the holder must respond the office action by one of the following two measures to avoid abandonment:
(i) submitting a response to the JPO through a Japanese agent within three months from the “date of pronouncement“ (i.e., the mailing date of the notification) or
(ii) filing a request for a limitation of goods and services using the official form (MM6) with the prescribed fee with the WIPO (where an issue of refusal can be resolved by amendment of goods and services only).
If the holder choose the option (i), we would be happy to assist you to overcome the objection. We would provide you with our comment and/or proposal of amendment in the light of the current Japanese practice. Your specific inquiries are also welcome.
A duration of trademark protection is 10 years from the date of registration (international registration). The duration may be renewed for another 10 years’ protection by filing a renewal application.
Should you have any questions or need further clarifications, please feel free to contact us.
