Japan Trademark Application | Japan Trademark Search Fees

Japan Trademark Registration

The legal basis of Japan trademark is Trademark Act of 1959. Japan is a member of the Paris Convention and the Madrid Protocol. Japan adopts first-to-file basis for trademark protection. A trademark registration is valid for 10 years from the date of registration and could be renewed for 10 years before the expiry date.

Japan Trademark Registration Fees

Services		Fees (USD)
Step 1: Pre-filing Search
	Word Mark (Each class)	250
	Device Mark (Each class)	370
	Combination Mark (Each class)	540
(1) Pre-filing search is not compulsory in Japan. (2) Pre-filing search is limited to Japan Patent Office (JPO)’s database only. (3) Pre-filing search report delivered in 15 working days by email.
Step 2: Trademark Registration Request
	First class	1,050
	Each additional class	600
(1) Fees covers both our service fees and official filing fees. (2) Fees for trademark registration request listed above cover no more than 20 items of products. Each item in excess of 20 will be charged with an extra fee of USD10.
Step 3: Final Registration/Certificate
	First class	600
	Each additional class	480

Note:
(1)	The fixed fees quoted above apply only to trademark applications which are unopposed and proceed without complication.
(2)	All fees quoted above do not include delivery fees.

Example of Trademark Registration Costs in Japan

Example 1: One mark one class
If you want to have your trademark "ABC" registered in Class 25 (clothing, footwear, headgear), that is, one mark one class, the total fees for trademark pre-filing search, registration request and certificate are:

Pre-filing search: USD 250
Request for registration: USD 1,050
Final registration/Certificate: USD 600
TOTAL: USD 1,900

Example 2: One mark two classes
If you want to have your trademark "ABC" registered in Class 25 (clothing, footwear, headgear) and Class 26 (lace and embroidery, ribbons and braid; buttons, hooks and eyes, pins and needles; artificial flowers), that is, one mark two classes, the total fees for trademark pre-filing search, registration request and certificate are:

Pre-filing search: 250 + 250 = USD 500
Request for registration: 1,050 + 600 = USD 1,650
Final registration/Certificate: 600 + 480 = USD 1,080
TOTAL: USD 3,230

Example 3: Two marks one class
If you want to have your trademarks "ABC" and "DEF" registered in Class 25 (clothing, footwear, headgear), that is, two marks one class, the total fees for trademark pre-filing searches, registration requests and certificates are:

Pre-filing searches: 250+ 250= USD 500
Request for registrations: 1,050 + 1,050 = USD 2,100
Final registrations/Certificates: 600 + 600 = USD 1,200
TOTAL: USD 3,800

The costs illustrated in the examples above are based on the assumption of a smooth application, that is, no objection being raised by JPO or any other third party. Also, the costs stated above exclude courier charges for sending Certificate of Registration upon acceptance of registration.

It is further assumed that the number of items of products included in each class is no more than 20. Each additional item after the first 20 is charged at a fee of USD10.

Materials Required for Filing of Trademark Application in Japan

(1)	A duly completed trademark search/registration order form (to be provided by Kaizen).
(2)	A soft copy of the trademark in JPEG format.
(3)	A copy of identity proof of the applicant (passport for individuals and Business Registration Certificate/Certificate of Incorporation for companies).
(4)	A priority document when priority is claimed (extra fees will be charged for filing priority claim documents).

Japan Trademark Application Procedures

(1)	Kaizen acknowledges the information including the specimens of mark, its goods/services and registration details, provides the latest quotation, preliminary advice and classifies your goods/services;
(2)	After the quotation has been confirmed, client will be required to complete our Trademark Search/ Registration Order Form and send it back to Kaizen by email or fax or post;
(3)	Once receipt of the payment for pre-filing search, Kaizen will conduct the pre-filing search (if requested). The official search report will be sent to client within 15 working days (based on the duration of the official search);
(4)	If the search results indicate that the application is likely to be accepted and client decide to proceed, client sends us the photocopy of identity proof (passport copy for individual and Certificate of Incorporation or Business Registration License) and at the same time makes payment for filing an application;
(5)	Kaizen will file trademark application to the JPO upon receipt of your payment and instruction;
(6)	JPO will publish the content of the application in the Official Gazette, check to see if it fulfills the formal and substantive requirements. If the requirements for registration are not met, the Examiner will object to the mark;
(7)	On the other hand, once your trademark has been decided for registration, with the payment of the registration fee, the certificate of registration will be issued by JPO.
(8)	We will review and send the certificate to you. Then the contents of the registration will be published on the trademark gazette. Any person may file an opposition to the decision to register the trademark with the Commissioner of the JPO.

5.	Time scale
	Currently it takes around 14 - 16 months to get a trademark registered in Japan in a smooth case.

Payment Term and Payment Method

Our fees for each stage of an application are to be invoiced and settled before the commencement of each stage of service. If a China or Taiwan Value-Added Tax invoice is required, 7% or 5% additional charge will be incurred.

We currently accept cheque, cash, TT and credit card through Paypal (5% additional charge will incur for paypal). Please click here for payment methods.

7.	Refund Policy
	No refund of fees will be made after the commencement of services. For example, if we have already conducted the pre-filing search and the search result indicates that there is an identical mark already in the register, the application for filing should not be proceeded, the fees for pre-filing search will not be refunded. Or we have already filed an application and the application is being objected and refused by JPO or any other party, there will not be any refunded of fees. In any case you pay us our fees for all three stages of an application, and the search result indicates that there is an identical mark already in the register, the application for filing should not be proceeded, the fees for services not performed, i.e., filing for application and issuing of certificate of registration will be refunded, after deducting bank wiring charge.