INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Recently application for registration of intellectual property has been rapidly increased. In Japan industrial intellectual property admitted for registration is classified into patent, design, utility model and trademark, and different statutes apply to each.

Registration of these intellectual property can protect rights of business entities, defend against patent or trademark claims, and highten their reputation and credibility, so the registration is important in aspect of business strategy.

Earth& Law Firm has helped application of patent, trademark and copyright, made related contracts and demand letters, negotiated, mediate,d litigated or provided advice about related matters. We are providing services to foreign business entities.

APPLICATION OF PATENT

We are thinking of registration of our patent. What should we pay attention to?

One of the requirement for registration of patent or similar rights is that the patent is not publicly known or used. So, we recommend you to keep the patent secret strictly until actual application.

Is registration of patent is difficult in Japan?

Registration of patent is not so easy. In Japan for patent to be registered, it must pass substantive examination. Actually around 1/3 of applicaions reach to the registration. However, utility model is relatively easy to be registered, although protection period is shorter than patent.