Registration of industrial designs in Japan – Every company that owns an industrial design and intends to expand its business in the market in Japan should use Japan’s intellectual property system. It is paramount for companies to file an industrial design application in Japan for industrial designs, even if the launch of the respective product on the market in Japan has not yet commenced.
Requirements for industrial design registration application in Japan
Japanese is the official language when registering an industrial design at the Japan Intellectual Property Office.
The following information and documents need to be provided in the application for registration of an industrial design in Japan:
- name, address, and nationality of the applicant, business address;
- class number according to the Locarno Classification;
- representation of the industrial design.
Power of Attorney is not required when registering an industrial design in Japan.
Examination of an industrial design application in Japan
An industrial design registration application in Japan will only undergo the formal and substantive examination process.
Validity period and renewal of industrial designs in Japan
The renewal period for the novelty of an industrial design in Japan is 12 months before the date of filing the industrial design registration application by the designer or on behalf of the designer.
Represented by an industrial design registration attorney
An international applicant for an industrial design registration in Japan should perform an industrial design search in Japan through a law firm, or an industrial design attorney.
You can see a list of Japanese IP firms here.