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Trademark Act (Act No. 127 of April 13, 1959)
Table of Contents
CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS (ARTICLES 1 AND 2)
CHAPTER II TRADEMARK REGISTRATION AND APPLICATION FOR
REGISTRATION OF TRADEMARK (ARTICLES 3 TO 13-2)
CHAPTER III EXAMINATION (ARTICLES 14 TO 17-2)
CHAPTER IV TRADEMARK RIGHTS
Section 1 Trademark Rights (Articles 18 to 35)
Section 2 Infringement of Rights (Articles 36 to 39)
Section 3 Registration Fees (Articles 40 to 43)
CHAPTER IV-2 OPPOSITION TO REGISTRATION (ARTICLES 43-2 TO 43-15)
CHAPTER V TRIALS ANDAPPEALS (ARTICLES 44 TO 56-2)
CHAPTER VI RETRIALAND LITIGATION (ARTICLES 57 TO 63-2)
CHAPTER VII DEFENSIVE MARK (ARTICLES 64 TO 68)
CHAPTER VII-2 SPECIAL PROVISIONS UNDER THE PROTOCOL RELATING
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This English translation of the Trademark Act has been prepared (up to the
revisions of Act No. 33 of 2018 (Effective June 9, 2018)).
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regulations.
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should consult the original Japanese texts published in the Official Gazette.
TO THE MADRID AGREEMENT
Section 1 Application for International Registration (Articles 682 to 688)
Section 2 Special Provisions Pertaining to International Applications for
Trademark Registration (Articles 689 to 6831)
Section 3 Special Provisions Concerning Applications for Trademark
Registration, etc. (Articles 6832 to 6839)
CHAPTER VIII MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS (ARTICLES 6840 TO 772)
CHAPTER IX PENAL PROVISIONS (ARTICLES 78 TO 85)
SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS
CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS
(Purpose)
Article 1 The purpose of this Act is, through the protection of trademarks, to ensure the
maintenance of business confidence of persons who use trademarks and thereby to contribute
to the development of the industry and to protect the interests of consumers.
(Definitions, etc.)
Article 2 (1) "Trademark" in this Act means, among those recognizable by human perception,
any character(s), figure(s), sign(s) or threedimensional shape(s) or colors, or any
combination thereof, sounds, etc. provided by Cabinet Order (hereinafter referred to as a
"mark") which is:
(i) used in connection with the goods of a person who produces, certifies or assigns
the goods as a business; or
(ii) used in connection with the services of a person who provides or certifies the
services as a business (except those provided for in the preceding item).
(2) "Services" set forth in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph shall include retail services and
wholesale services, namely, the provision of benefits for customers conducted in the course
of retail and wholesale business.
(3) "Use" with respect to a mark as used in this Act means any of the following acts:
(i) to affix a mark to goods or packages of goods;
(ii) to assign, deliver, display for the purpose of assignment or delivery, export,
import or provide through an electric telecommunication line, goods or packages
of goods to which a mark is affixed;
(iii) in the course of the provision of services, to affix a mark to articles to be used by
a person who receives the said services (including articles to be assigned or
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loaned; the same shall apply hereinafter);
(iv) in the course of the provision of services, to provide the said services by using
articles to which a mark is affixed and which are to be used by a person who
receives the said services;
(v) for the purpose of providing services, to display articles to be used for the
provision of the services (including articles to be used by a person who receives
the services in the course of the provision of services; the same shall apply
hereinafter) to which a mark is affixed;
(vi) in the course of the provision of services, to affix a mark to articles pertaining to
the provision of the said services belonging to a person who receives the services;
(vii) in the course of the provision of services through an image viewer, by using an
electromagnetic device (an electromagnetic device shall refer to any electronic,
magnetic or other method that is not recognizable by human perception; the same
shall apply in the following item), to provide the said services by displaying a
mark on the image viewer; or
(viii) to display or distribute advertisement materials, price lists or transaction
documents relating to goods or services to which a mark is affixed, or to provide
information on such content, to which a mark is affixed by an electromagnetic
device.
(viiii) In the case of a mark of sounds, in addition to those listed in the preceding
items, an act to produce sounds for the purpose of assignment or delivery of goods,
or providing services; and
(x) In addition to those listed in the preceding items, acts provided by Cabinet
Order.
(4) In the cases of marks listed in the following items, to affix a mark to goods or other articles
provided for in the preceding paragraph shall include those listed in each of the said items:
(i) a mark of any character(s), figure(s), sign(s) or threedimensional shape(s), or
any combination thereof, or any combination thereof with colors: to form in the
shape of goods, packages of goods, articles to be used for the provision of services,
or advertisement materials relating to goods or services; and
(ii) a mark of any sounds: in a case where a recording medium is affixed to goods, articles to be
used for the provision of services, or advertisement materials relating to goods or services
(including a case where goods, articles to be used for the provision of services, or
advertisement materials relating to goods or services themselves are recording media) to
record the mark on the recording media.
(5) "Registered trademark" in this Act means a trademark that has been registered as a
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trademark.
(6) In this Act, the scope of those similar to goods may include services, and the scope of those
similar to services may include goods.
CHAPTER II TRADEMARK REGISTRATION AND APPLICATION FOR
TRADEMARK REGISTRATION
(Requirements for trademark registration)
Article 3 (1) Any trademark to be used in connection with goods or services pertaining to the
business of an applicant may be registered, unless the trademark:
(i) consists solely of a mark indicating, in a common manner, the common name of
the goods or services;
(ii) is customarily used in connection with the goods or services;
(iii) consists solely of a mark indicating, in a common manner, in the case of goods,
the place of origin, place of sale, quality, raw materials, efficacy, intended purpose,
shape (including shape of packages; the same shall apply in Article 26(1)(ii) and
(iii)), the method or features including time of production or use, quantity, price,
or, in the case of services, the location of provision, quality, articles to be used in
such provision, efficacy, intended purpose, modes, method or features including
time, quantity or price of provision;
(iv) consists solely of a mark indicating, in a common manner, a common surname or
name of a juridical person;
(v) consists solely of a very simple and common mark; or
(vi) is in addition to those listed in each of the preceding items, a trademark by
which consumers are not able to recognize the goods or services as those
pertaining to a business of a particular person.
(2) Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, a trademark that falls under any of items (iii) to
(v) of the preceding paragraph may be registered if, as a result of the use of the trademark,
consumers are able to recognize the goods or services as those pertaining to a business of a
particular person.
(Unregistrable trademarks)
Article 4 (1) Notwithstanding the preceding Article, no trademark shall be registered if the
trademark:
(i) is identical with, or similar to, the national flag, the imperial chrysanthemum
crest, a decoration, a medal or a foreign national flag;
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(ii) is identical with, or similar to, the coats of arms or any other State emblems
(except national flags of any country of the Union to the Paris Convention,
member of the World Trade Organization or Contracting Party to the Trademark
Law Treaty) of a country of the Union to the Paris Convention (refers to the Paris
Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property of March 20, 1883, as revised
at Brussels on December 14, 1900, at Washington on June 2, 1911, at the Hague
on November 6, 1925, at London on June 2, 1934, at Lisbon on October 31, 1958
and at Stockholm on July 14, 1967; the same shall apply hereinafter), a member
of the World Trade Organization or a Contracting Party to the Trademark Law
Treaty designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry;
(iii) is identical with, or similar to, a mark indicating the United Nations or any
other international organization (referred to as "international organization" in
(b)) which has been designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
(excluding those listed in the following);
(a) is identical with, or similar to, a trademark which is well known among
consumers as that indicating goods or services in connection with the applicant's
business, if such a trademark is used in connection with such goods or services or
goods or services similar thereto; and
(b) is identical with, or similar to, a mark indicating abbreviation of any
international organization, which has been used for goods or services that is not
likely to mislead as to connection to the international organization;
(iv) is identical with, or similar to, the emblems or titles in Article 1 of the Act
Concerning Restriction on the Use of Emblems and Titles of the Red Cross and
Others (Act No.159 of 1947) or the distinctive emblem in Article 158(1) of the Act
Concerning Measures to Protect Japanese Citizens During Armed Attacks and
Others (Act No.112 of 2004);
(v) is comprised of a mark identical with, or similar to, an official hallmark or sign
indicating control or warranty by the national or a local government of Japan, a
country of the Union to the Paris Convention, a member of the World Trade
Organization or a Contracting Party to the Trademark Law Treaty which has
been designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, if such a
trademark is used in connection with goods or services identical with, or similar
to, the goods or services in connection with which the hallmark or sign is used;
(vi) is identical with, or similar to, a famous mark indicating the State, a local
government, an agency thereof, a nonprofit organization undertaking a business
for public interest, or a nonprofit enterprise undertaking a business for public
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interest;
(vii) is likely to cause damage to public policy;
(viii) contains the portrait of another person, or the name, famous pseudonym,
professional name or pen name of another person, or famous abbreviation thereof
(except those the registration of which has been approved by the person
concerned);
(ix) is comprised of a mark identical with, or similar to, a prize awarded at an
exhibition held by the national or a local government (hereinafter referred to as
the "Government, etc.") or by those who are not the Government, etc. that
conforms to the standards specified by the Commissioner of the Patent Office, or
at an international exhibition held in a foreign country by the Government, etc. of
the foreign country or those authorized thereby (except those used by the
recipient of such a prize as part of his/her own trademark);
(x) is identical with, or similar to, another person's trademark which is well known
among consumers as that indicating goods or services in connection with the
person's business, if such a trademark is used in connection with such goods or
services or goods or services similar thereto;
(xi) is identical with, or similar to, another person's registered trademark which has
been filed prior to the filing date of an application for registration of the said
trademark, if such a trademark is used in connection with the designated goods
or designated services relating to the said registered trademark(referring to
goods or services designated in accordance with Article 6(1) (including cases
where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 68(1)); the same shall
apply hereinafter), or goods or services similar thereto;
(xii) is identical with a registered defensive mark of another person (referring to a
mark registered as a defensive mark; the same shall apply hereinafter), if such a
trademark is used in connection with designated goods or designated services
relating to the defensive mark;
(xiii) deleted
(xiv) is identical with, or similar to, the name of a variety registered in accordance
with Article 18(1) of the Plant Variety Protection and Seed Act (Act No. 83 of
1998), if such a trademark is used in connection with seeds and seedlings of the
variety or goods or services similar thereto;
(xv) is likely to cause confusion in connection with the goods or services pertaining
to a business of another person (except those listed in items (x) to (xiv) inclusive);
(xvi) is likely to mislead as to the quality of the goods or services;
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(xvii) is comprised of a mark indicating a place of origin of wines or spirits of Japan
which has been designated by the Commissioner of the Patent Office, or a mark
indicating a place of origin of wines or spirits of a member of the World Trade
Organization which is prohibited by the said member from being used on wines or
spirits not originating from the region of the said member, if such a trademark is
used in connection with wines or spirits not originating from the region in Japan
or of the said member;
(xviii) consists solely of features provided by Cabinet Order among features that are
naturally provided to goods, etc. (goods, or packages of goods, or services; the
same shall apply in Article 26(1)(v)); or
(xix) is identical with, or similar to, a trademark which is well known among
consumers in Japan or abroad as that indicating goods or services pertaining to a
business of another person, if such trademark is used for unfair purposes
(referring to the purpose of gaining unfair profits, the purpose of causing damage
to the other person, or any other unfair purposes, the same shall apply
hereinafter) (except those provided for in each of the preceding items);
(2) Where the State or a local government, an agency thereof, a nonprofit organization
undertaking a business for public interest, or a person undertaking a nonprofit activity for
public interest files an application for trademark registration falling under item (vi) of the
preceding paragraph, the provision of the said item shall not apply.
(3) Items (viii), (x), (xv), (xvii) and (xix) of paragraph (1) shall not apply to a trademark falling
under any of the said items which does not fall under the said item at the time of filing of an
application for trademark registration.
(Application for trademark registration)
Article 5 (1) Any person who desires to register a trademark shall submit an application to the
Commissioner of the Patent Office accompanied by the required documents. The application
shall state the following matters:
(i) the name and the domicile or residence of the applicant for trademark
registration;
(ii) the trademark for which registration is sought; and
(iii) the designated goods or designated services and the class of goods or services
provided by Cabinet Order as provided for in Article 6(2).
(2) Where a person desires to register a trademark listed in the following, the application shall
contain a statement indicating thereof:
(i) consists of any character(s), figure(s), sign(s) or threedimensional shape(s) or colors, or any
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combination thereof, where the said character(s), figure(s), sign(s) or threedimensional
shape(s) or colors in connection with the said trademark change;
(ii) consists of threedimensional shape(s) (including the combination with any character(s),
figure(s), sign(s) or threedimensional shape(s) or colors, or any combination thereof)
(excluding those listed in the preceding item);
(iii) consists solely of colors (excluding those listed in item (i));
(iv) consists solely of sounds; or
(v) in addition to those listed in each of the preceding items, trademarks provided by Cabinet
Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
(3) Where a person desires to register a trademark consisting solely of characters designated by
the Commissioner of the Patent Office (hereinafter referred to as "standard characters"), the
application shall contain a statement indicating thereof.
(4) Where a person desires to register any trademark provided by Cabinet Order of the Ministry
of Economy, Trade and Industry, the application shall sate the detailed description of the
trademark in the application pursuant to Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and
Industry, or affix materials provided by Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and
Industry to the application.
(5) The statement and materials in the preceding paragraph shall specify the trademark for
which a registration is sought.
(6) Where a portion of the trademark for which a registration is sought is in the same color as
that of the column in which a trademark for which a registration is sought is required to be
stated, the said portion of the trademark shall be deemed not to be a part of the trademark;
provided, however, that this shall not apply to an area specified and identified as an area to be
colored in the same color as that of the column.
(According of filing date, etc.)
Article 52 (1) The Commissioner of the Patent Office shall accord as the filing date of an
application for trademark registration the date of submission of the application relating
thereto, unless the application for trademark registration falls under any of the following
items:
(i) the statement of intent to register a trademark is unclear;
(ii) the name of the applicant for trademark registration is not stated or the
statement thereof is not sufficient to identify the applicant;
(iii) the trademark for which a registration is sought is not stated in the application;
and
(iv) the designated goods or designated services are not stated.
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(2) Where an application for trademark registration falls under any of the items of the preceding
paragraph, the Commissioner of the Patent Office shall require the person who desires to
register the trademark registration to supplement the application, designating a reasonable
time limit for such purpose.
(3) Supplement of an application for trademark registration shall be made by submitting a
document with respect to the supplement (hereinafter referred to as a "Written Supplement").
(4) Where an applicant who was required to supplement an application for trademark
registration under paragraph (2) supplements the said application within the designated time
limit as provided in the said paragraph, the Commissioner of the Patent Office shall accord
the date of submission of the Written Supplement as the filing date of the application for
trademark registration.
(5) Where an applicant who has been required to supplement an application for trademark
registration under paragraph (2) fails to supplement the said application within the designated
time limit as provided in the said paragraph, the Commissioner of the Patent Office may
dismiss the said application for trademark registration.
(Single trademark on each application)
Article 6 (1) An application for trademark registration shall be filed for each trademark and
designate one or more goods or services in connection with which the trademark is to be
used.
(2) The designation provided for in the preceding paragraph shall be made in accordance with
the class of goods and services provided by Cabinet Order.
(3) The class of goods and services provided for in the preceding paragraph shall not be
perceived as prescribing the scope of similarities of goods or services.
(Collective trademarks)
Article 7 (1) A general incorporated association or other association (except those which do not
have juridical personality, and companies), or any other association established pursuant to a
special Act including business cooperative (except those which do not have juridical
personality), or a foreign juridical person equivalent thereto shall be entitled to obtain a
collective trademark registration with respect to a trademark to be used by their members.
(2) For the purpose of the application of Article 3(1), in the case of the preceding paragraph,
"applicant" in the said paragraph shall read "applicant or its members."
(3) Any person who desires to register a collective trademark pursuant to paragraph (1) shall, at
the time of filing of an application for trademark registration pursuant to Article 5(1), submit
to the Commissioner of the Patent Office a document certifying that the applicant for
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trademark registration is a juridical person that falls under paragraph (1).
(Regional collective trademarks)
Article 72 (1) Any association established by a special Act, including a business cooperative
(those which do not have juridical personality are excluded, and limited to those which are
established by a special Act providing, without a just cause, that the association shall not
refuse the enrollment of any person who is eligible to become a member or that the
association shall not impose on any of its prospective members any condition that is heavier
than those imposed on its existing members), a commercial transaction, commercial and
industrial association or specified nonprofit corporation specified in Article 2(2) of Act on
Promotion of Specified Nonprofit Activities (Act No. 7 of 1998), or a foreign juridical
person equivalent thereto (hereinafter referred to as an "Association, etc.") shall be entitled to
obtain a regional collective trademark registration with respect of any of the following,
provided that the trademark is used by its members and, as a result of the use of the said
trademark, the said trademark is well known among consumers as indicating the goods or
services pertaining to the business of the applicant or its members, notwithstanding the
provision of Article 3 (except a case falling under item (i) or (ii) of Article 3(1)):
(i) a trademark consisting solely of characters indicating, in a common manner, the
name of the region and the common name of the goods or services pertaining to
the business of the applicant or its members;
(ii) a trademark consisting solely of characters indicating, in a common manner, the
name of the region and the name customarily used as a name indicating the goods
or services pertaining to the business of the applicant or its members; or
(iii) a trademark consisting solely of characters indicating, in a common manner, the
name of the region and the common name of the goods or services pertaining to
the business of the applicant or its members or the name customarily used as a
name indicating thereof, and characters customarily added in indicating, in a
common manner, the place of origin of the goods or the location of provision of the
services.
(2) The term "name of the region" as used in the preceding paragraph means, even prior to the
filing of the said application, the name of the place of origin of the goods, the location of
provision of services, or the name of the region which is considered to have a close
relationship with the said goods or services to the equivalent extent, for which the trademark
pertaining to the said application has been used by the applicant or its members, or
abbreviation thereof.
(3) For the purpose of the application of Article 3(1) (limited to the part pertaining to items (i)
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and (ii)) in the case of paragraph (1), "applicant" in the said paragraph shall read "applicant or
its members."
(4) Any person who desires to register a regional collective trademark pursuant to paragraph (1)
shall, at the time of filing of an application for trademark registration pursuant to Article 5(1),
submit to the Commissioner of the Patent Office a document certifying that the applicant for
trademark registration is an Association, etc. and documents necessary to prove that the
trademark for which the registration is sought contains the name of a region as provided in
paragraph (2).
(Prior application)
Article 8 (1) Where two or more applications for trademark registration relating to identical or
similar trademarks which are to be used in connection with identical or similar goods or
services have been filed on different dates, only the applicant who filed the application for
trademark registration on the earlier date shall be entitled to register the trademark in
question.
(2) Where two or more applications for trademark registration relating to identical or similar
trademarks which are to be used in connection with identical or similar goods or services
have been filed on the same date, only one applicant who is to be determined by consultations
among the applicants who filed such applications shall be entitled to register the trademark in
question.
(3) Where an application for trademark registration is abandoned, withdrawn or dismissed, or an
examiner's decision or a trial decision on an application for trademark registration becomes
final and binding, such application shall, for the purposes of the application of the preceding
two paragraphs, be deemed never to have been filed.
(4) In the case of paragraph (2), the Commissioner of the Patent Office shall require the
applicants for trademark registration to arrange consultations among the applicants as set
forth in the said paragraph and to report the result thereof, designating a reasonable time limit
for such purpose.
(5) Where no agreement is reached in the consultations held pursuant to paragraph (2) or no
report is submitted within the designated time limit set forth in the preceding paragraph, only
one applicant, selected by a lottery in a fair and just manner conducted by the Commissioner
of the Patent Office, shall be entitled to register the trademark in question.
(Special provisions concerning time of filing of application)
Article 9 (1) Where an application for trademark registration is filed in connection with a
trademark used for goods or services exhibited at an exhibition held by the Government, etc.,
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an exhibition held by those who are not the Government, etc. that conforms to the standards
specified by the Commissioner of the Patent Office, an international exhibition held by the
Government, etc. of a country of the Union to the Paris Convention, a member of the World
Trade Organization or a Contracting Party to the Trademark Law Treaty or by those
authorized thereby to hold such an exhibition in its territory, or an international exhibition
held by the Government, etc. of a country which is not a country of the Union of the Paris
Convention, a member of the World Trade Organization or a Contracting Party to the
Trademark Law Treaty or by those authorized thereby to hold such exhibition in its territory
that conforms to the standards specified by the Commissioner of the Patent Office, by the
exhibitor of such goods or services bearing the trademark within six months from the date of
exhibition of such goods or services, the said application shall be deemed to have been filed
at the time of exhibition of such goods or services.
(2) Any person who desires to apply the preceding paragraph in connection with a trademark
relating to an application for trademark registration shall submit to the Commissioner of the
Patent Office a document stating thereof at the time of filing of the application for trademark
registration, and documents proving the fact that the trademark pertaining to an application
for trademark registration and its designated goods or designated services fall under the
trademark and goods or services provided in the said paragraph (referred to as a "certificate"
in the following paragraph and paragraph (4)), within thirty days from the filing date of an
application for the trademark registration.
(3) Where a person submitting a certificate is unable to submit the certificate within the time
limit under the preceding paragraph, the said person may, in accordance with Ordinance of
the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, submit the said certificate to the Commissioner
of the Patent Office only within the time limit as provided in Ordinance of the Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry, even after the expiration of the time limit.
(4) Where, due to reasons beyond the control of the person, the person submitting a
certificate is unable to submit the certificate within the time limit for submission of
the certificate pursuant to the preceding paragraph, notwithstanding the said
paragraph, submit the certificate to the Commissioner of the Patent Office within
14 days (two months for resident abroad) from the date on which the reasons for not
submitting ceased to be applicable, but not later than six months after the
expiration of the said time limit.
(Priority claim governed by the Paris Convention)
Article 92 A right of priority based on an application for registration of a trademark filed in a
country of the Union to the Paris Convention (limited to a trademark equivalent to a
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trademark provided in Article 2(1)(ii)) may be claimed as governed by the same rules as
Article 4 of the Paris Convention in connection with a right of priority based on an
application for registration of a trademark equivalent to the trademark provided in Article
2(1)(i).
Article 93 A right of priority based on an application filed by a person stated in the left column
of the following table in a country stated in the right column of the same table may be
claimed in connection with an application for trademark registration as governed by Article 4
of the Paris Convention.
Japanese nationals or nationals of a
country of the Union to the Paris
Convention (including those who are
deemed to be nationals of a country of
the Union as provided by Article 3 of the
Paris Convention)
A member of the World Trade
Organization or a Contracting Party to
the Trademark Law Treaty
Nationals of a member of the World
Trade Organization (refers to nationals
of a member provided in paragraph 3 of
Article 1 of Annex 1C to the Marrakesh
Agreement Establishing the World
Trade Organization) or nationals of a
Contracting Party to the Trademark
Law Treaty
A country of the Union to the Paris
Convention, a member of the World
Trade Organization or a Contracting
Party to the Trademark Law Treaty
(Amendment of designated goods, etc. or trademark for which registration is sought
and change of gist thereof)
Article 94 Where, after the registration of establishment of a trademark right, any amendment
made to the designated goods or designated services, or trademark for which registration is
sought stated in the application, is found to cause any change of the gist thereof, the
application for trademark registration shall be deemed to have been filed at the time of
submission of the written amendment relating thereto.
(Division of application for trademark registration)
Article 10 (1) An applicant for trademark registration may file one or more new applications
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with regard to part of an application which designates two or more goods or services as its
designated goods or designated services, provided that the application for trademark
registration is pending in examination, trial examination or retrial examination, or that a suit
against a trial decision to refuse the application is pending in court, and that the applicant has
paid the fees payable under Article 76(2) for the application for trademark registration.
(2) In the case of the preceding paragraph, the new application for trademark registration shall
be deemed to have been filed at the time of filing of the original application for trademark
registration; provided, however, that this shall not apply for the purpose of Article 9(2) of this
Act and Article 43(1) and 43(2) of the Patent Act (Act No.121 of 1959) as applied mutatis
mutandis pursuant to Article 13(1) of this Act (including cases where they are applied mutatis
mutandis pursuant to Article 433(3) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant
to Article 13(1) of this Act).
(3) Where a new application for trademark registration is filed as provided in paragraph (1),
statements or documents submitted in connection with the original application for trademark
registration which are required to be submitted in connection with the new application for
trademark registration pursuant to Article 9(2) of this Act or Article 43(1) and 43(2) of the
Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 13(1) of this Act (including its
mutatis mutandis application pursuant to Article 433(3) of the Patent Act as applied
mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 13(1) of this Act) shall be deemed to have been
submitted to the Commissioner of the Patent Office at the time of filing the new application
for trademark registration.
(Conversion of application)
Article 11 (1) An applicant for trademark registration may convert an application for trademark
registration of a collective trademark into a regular application for trademark registration
(referring to an application for trademark registration other than those of collective
trademarks and regional collective trademarks; the same shall apply hereinafter) or an
application for trademark registration of a regional collective trademark.
(2) An applicant for trademark registration may convert an application for trademark
registration of a regionally based collective trademark into a regular application for trademark
registration or an application for trademark registration of a collective trademark.
(3) An applicant for trademark registration may convert a regular application for trademark
registration into an application for trademark registration of a collective trademark or an
application for trademark registration of a regionally based collective trademark.
(4) The conversion of an application for trademark registration pursuant to the provisions of the
preceding three paragraphs may not be made after an examiner's decision or a trial decision
14
on the application for trademark registration becomes final and binding.
(5) Where the conversion of an application for trademark registration is made pursuant to
paragraphs (1) to (3), the original application for trademark registration shall be deemed to
have been withdrawn.
(6) The provisions of Articles 10(2) and 10(3) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the conversion of
an application for trademark registration pursuant to paragraphs (1) to (3).
Article 12 (1) An applicant for a defensive mark registration may convert such an application
into an application for trademark registration.
(2) The conversion of an application pursuant to the preceding paragraph may not be made after
an examiner's decision or a trial decision on the application for a defensive mark registration
becomes final and binding.
(3) The provisions of Articles 10(2), 10(3) and 11(5) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the
conversion of an application pursuant to paragraph (1).
(Laying open of application)
Article 122 (1) Where an application for trademark registration is filed, the Commissioner of
the Patent Office shall lay open the trademark application.
(2) The laying open of a trademark application shall be effected by stating the following matters
in the Trademark Gazette; provided, however, that this shall not apply to the matters listed in
items (iii) and (iv), where the Commissioner of the Patent Office finds that publishing the
said matters in the trademark bulletin is likely to cause damage to public policy.
(i) the name and the domicile or residence of the applicant for the trademark
registration;
(ii) the number and date of the application for trademark registration;
(iii) the trademark stated in the application (in the case provided in Article 5(3), the
trademark represented in standard characters; the same shall apply hereinafter);
(iv) the designated goods or designated services; and
(v) other necessary matters in addition to those matters listed in the preceding
items.
(Mutatis mutandis application of the Patent Act)
Article 13 (1) The provisions of Paragraphs (1) to (4) and (7) to (9) of Article 43, and (2) and
(3) of Article 433 of the Patent Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to an application for
trademark registration. In this case, the term "within the time limit provided by Ordinance of
the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry" in Article 43(1) of the said Act shall be
15
deemed to be replaced with "at the time of filing of the application for trademark
registration," "the description, scope of claims for patent or claim of utility model and
drawings" in paragraph (2) of the said Article shall be deemed to be replaced with "the
statement of the trademark for which registration is sought and the designated goods or
designated services," "one year and four months from the earliest of the following dates" in
paragraph(2) of the said Article shall be deemed to be replaced with "three months from the
filing date of an application for trademark registration"; "a person who has received a notice
provided under the preceding paragraph" in paragraph (7) of the said Article shall be deemed
to be replaced with "where a person who submits the documents under paragraph (2) is
unable to submit the documents under the said paragraph within the time limit provided in the
said paragraph, even after the expiration of the said time limit," "the documents specified in
paragraph (2) or the document specified in paragraph (5)" in paragraph(7) of the said Article
shall be deemed to be replaced with "the documents specified in the said paragraph as
provided by Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry"; "a person who has
received a notice provided under paragraph (6)" in paragraph(8) of the said Article shall be
deemed to be replaced with "a person who submits the documents under paragraph (2)," "the
documents specified in paragraph (2) or the document specified in paragraph (5)" in
paragraph(8) of the said Article shall be deemed to be replaced with "the documents specified
in paragraph (2)," "the documents or the document" in paragraph(8) of the said Article shall
be deemed to be replaced with "the documents"; "the documents specified in paragraph (2) or
the document specified in paragraph (5)" in paragraph (9) of the said Article shall be deemed
to be replaced with "the documents specified in paragraph (2)"; "or members of the World
Trade Organization" in Article 433(2) of the said Act shall be deemed to be replaced with
"members of the World Trade Organization or Contracting Parties to the Trademark Law
Treaty"; "or nationals of members of the World Trade Organization" in the same paragraph
shall be deemed to be replaced with "nationals of members of the World Trade Organization
or nationals of Contracting Parties to the Trademark Law Treaty"; "preceding two Articles" in
paragraph (3) of the said Article shall be deemed to be replaced with "Article 43"; and
"preceding two paragraphs" in paragraph (3) of the said paragraph shall be deemed to be
replaced with "preceding paragraph."
(2) The provisions of paragraphs (1) to (3) of Articles 33 and paragraphs (4) to (7) of Article 34
(Right to obtain patent) of the Patent Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the rights deriving
from an application for trademark registration.
(Right to monetary claim, etc. prior to registration of establishment of trademark
right)
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Article 132 (1) Where an applicant for trademark registration issues a warning after filing an
application for trademark registration by presenting a document stating a description of the
application, the applicant may claim against any person who uses the trademark pertaining to
the application, for the designated goods or designated services in the application during the
period from the warning to the registration of establishment of the trademark right, the
payment of money in the amount equivalent to the loss incurred in the course of business due
to such use.
(2) The right to claim under the preceding paragraph may not be exercised prior to the
registration of establishment of the trademark right.
(3) The exercise of the right to claim under paragraph (1) shall not preclude the exercise of the
trademark right.
(4) The right to claim under paragraph (1) shall be deemed never to have arisen in any of the
following cases: where an application for trademark registration is abandoned, withdrawn or
dismissed; where an examiner's decision or a trial decision to the effect that an application for
trademark registration is to be refused becomes final and binding; where a ruling to rescind a
trademark under Article 433(2) becomes final and binding; or where, excluding the cases
falling under the proviso to Article 462(1), a trial decision to the effect that a trademark
registration is to be invalidated becomes final and binding.
(5) The provisions of Articles 27 and 37 of this Act, Articles 1043(1) and (2), 105, 1052,
1054 to 1056 and 106 of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 39 of this
Act, and Articles paragraphs (3) to (6) of Article 168 of the Patent Act as applied mutatis
mutandis under Article 56(1) of this Act and Articles 719 and 724 (Tort) of the Civil Code
(Act No.89 of 1896) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the exercise of the right to claim under
paragraph (1). In this case, where prior to the registration of the establishment of the
trademark right, the person having the right to claim becomes aware of the fact that the
trademark in connection with the application for trademark registration is used, and the
identity of the person using the trademark, the term "by the victim or his/her legal
representative within three years from the time when he/she comes to know of the damages
and the identity of the perpetrator" in Article 724 of the said Code shall be deemed to be
replaced with "by the person having the right to claim within three years from the date of the
registration of the establishment of the trademark right."
CHAPTER III EXAMINATION
(Examination by an examiner)
Article 14 The Commissioner of the Patent Office shall direct the examination of applications
17
for trademark registration by an examiner.
(Examiner's decision of refusal)
Article 15 Where an application for trademark registration falls under any of the following items,
the examiner shall render a decision to the effect that the application is to be refused:
(i) the trademark pertaining to an application for trademark registration is not
registrable pursuant to the provisions of Articles 3, 4(1), 72(1), 8(2), 8(5), 51(2)
(including the case of its mutatis mutandis application under Article 522(2)),
53(2) of this Act or Article 25 of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis under
77(3) of this Act;
(ii) the trademark pertaining to an application for trademark registration is not
registrable pursuant to the provisions of a relevant treaty; or
(iii) the application for trademark registration does not comply with the
requirements provided in Article 5(5), or Article 6(1) or 6(2).
(Notification of reasons for refusal)
Article 152 Where the examiner intends to render a decision to the effect that an application is
to be refused, the examiner shall notify the applicant for trademark registration of the reasons
for refusal and provide the applicant an opportunity to submit a written opinion, designating a
reasonable time limit for such purpose.
Article 153 (1) Where a trademark pertaining to an application for trademark registration is
identical with, or similar to, another person's trademark pertaining to an application for
trademark registration filed prior to the filing date of the said application, if the said
trademark is used for goods or services identical with, or similar to, the designated goods or
designated services pertaining to such other person's trademark, the examiner may notify the
applicant for trademark registration of the fact that the said application for trademark
registration will fall under Article 15(i) when the said other person's trademark is registered,
and provide the applicant with an opportunity to submit a written opinion, designating a
reasonable time limit for such purpose.
(2) Where the notification set forth in the preceding paragraph has already been served and the
said other person's trademark is registered, the examiner shall not be required to serve the
notification set forth in the preceding Article.
(Examiner's decision of trademark registration)
Article 16 Where no reasons for refusal are found in connection with an application for
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trademark registration within the time limit provided by Cabinet Order, the examiner shall
render a decision to the effect that the trademark is to be registered.
(Dismissal of amendment)
Article 162 (1) Where an amendment made to the designated goods or designated services, or
to the trademark for which registration is sought as stated in the application, is considered to
cause any change of the gist thereof, the examiner shall dismiss the amendment by a ruling.
(2) The ruling dismissing an amendment under the preceding paragraph shall be made in writing
and state reasons therefor.
(3) Where a ruling dismissing an amendment under paragraph (1) is rendered, the examiner
shall not render any decision on the said application for trademark registration before the
expiration of a three month period from the date of service of a transcript of the ruling.
(4) Where an applicant for trademark registration files a request for a trial under Article 45(1)
against the ruling dismissing an amendment under paragraph (1), the examiner shall suspend
the examination of the application for trademark registration until the trial decision becomes
final and binding.
(Mutatis mutandis application of the Patent Act)
Article 17 The provisions of Articles 47(2) (Qualification of Examiners), 48 (Exclusion of
Examiners), 52 (Formal Requirements for Examination) and 54 (Relationship with Litigation)
of the Patent Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the examination of applications for
trademark registration. In this case, the term "a trial decision" in Article 54(1) of the Patent
Act shall be deemed to be replaced with "a ruling on an opposition to registration or a trial
decision."
(Mutatis mutandis application of the Design Act)
Article 172 (1) The provision of Article 173 (New Application for Designs as Amended) of
the Design Act (Act No. 125 of 1959) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the case where an
amendment is dismissed by a ruling pursuant to Article 162(1) of this Act.
(2) The provision of Article 174 of the Design Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the case of
an extension of the time limit provided in Article 173(1) of the Design Act as applied
mutatis mutandis to the preceding paragraph or Article 552(3) (including its mutatis
mutandis application under Article 602(2)) of this Act.
CHAPTER IV TRADEMARK RIGHTS
Section 1 Trademark Rights
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(Registration of establishment of trademark right)
Article 18 (1) A trademark right shall arise upon registration of establishment of such right.
(2) Where the registration fee under Article 40(1) or the registration fee due and payable within
thirty days from the date of service of a transcript of an examiner's decision or a trial decision
to the effect that a trademark is to be registered pursuant to Article 412(1) is paid, the
establishment of the trademark right shall be registered.
(3) Upon registration set forth in the preceding paragraph, the following matters shall be
published in the trademark bulletin:
(i) the name and the domicile or residence of the holder of trademark right;
(ii) the number and date of the application for trademark registration;
(iii) the trademark stated in the application;
(iv) the designated goods or designated services;
(v) the registration number and the date of registration of establishment; and
(vi) other necessary matters in addition to those listed in the preceding items.
(4) The Commissioner of the Patent Office shall make application documents and their annexed
articles available for public inspection at the Patent Office for two months from the date of
issuance of the trademark bulletin containing matters listed in each item of the preceding
paragraph (hereinafter referred to as "bulletin containing the trademark") pursuant to the
provisions of the preceding paragraph; provided, however, that this shall not apply to
documents or articles that are likely to damage the reputation or disturb the peaceful existence
of an individual or to cause damage to public policy, and the Commissioner of the Patent
Office finds necessary to be kept confidential.
(5) Where the Commissioner of the Patent Office intends to make available for public
inspection documents or articles which are likely to damage the reputation or disturb the
peaceful existence of an individual and are other than those the Commissioner of the Patent
Office finds necessary to be kept confidential pursuant to the proviso set forth in the
preceding paragraph, the Commissioner of the Patent Office shall notify the person who
submitted the documents or the articles thereof and the reasons therefor.
(Duration)
Article 19 (1) The duration of a trademark right shall expire after ten years from the date of
registration of establishment of such right.
(2) The duration of a trademark right may be renewed by the holder of trademark right by filing
an application for registration of renewal.
(3) Where the renewal of the duration of the trademark right is registered, the duration shall
20
have been renewed at the time of expiration of the duration.
(Application for registration of renewal of duration)
Article 20 (1) A person filing a request for registration of renewal of the duration of a trademark
right shall submit to the Commissioner of the Patent Office an application stating the
following matters:
(i) the name and the domicile or residence of the applicant;
(ii) the registration number of the trademark registration; and
(iii) in addition to those listed in the preceding two items, the matters provided by
Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
(2) An application for registration of renewal shall be filed during the period from six months
prior to the expiration of the duration of a trademark right to the date of expiration thereof.
(3) Where the holder of trademark right is unable to file an application for registration of
renewal within the time limit provided in the preceding paragraph, the holder of trademark
right may file the said application within the time limit as provided in Ordinance of the
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, even after the expiration of the said time limit.
(4) Where the holder of trademark right fails to file an application for registration of renewal
within the time limit for such request pursuant to the provision of the preceding paragraph,
the trademark right shall be deemed to have been extinguished retroactively from the time of
the expiration of its duration.
(Restoration of trademark right)
Article 21 (1) Where the original holder of a trademark right which was deemed to have been
extinguished pursuant to Article 20(4) has justifiable reasons for having been unable to file an
application for registration of renewal within the time limit for such application pursuant to
Article 20(3), the original holder of the trademark right may file the said application only
within the time limit as provided in Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and
Industry.
(2) Where an application for registration of renewal is filed under the preceding paragraph, the
duration shall be deemed to have been renewed retroactively at the time of expiration of the
duration.
(Limitations of effects of restored trademark right)
Article 22 The effects of a trademark right restored pursuant to Article 21(2) may not extend to
the following acts committed after the expiration of the time limit for the filing of the
application for registration of renewal provided in Article 20(3) and before the registration of
21
renewal of the duration of the trademark right by the application under Article 21(1):
(i) the use of the registered trademark in connection with the designated goods or
designated services; and
(ii) the acts provided for in each item of Article37.
(Registration of renewal of duration)
Article 23 (1) Where the registration fee under Article 40(2) or the registration fee due and
payable at the time of filing of the application for registration of renewal pursuant to the
provision of Article 412(7) is paid, the renewal of the duration of the trademark right shall be
registered.
(2) Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, where an application for registration of renewal is
filed pursuant to Article 20(3) or 21(1), the renewal of the duration of the trademark right
shall be registered at the time of payment of the registration fee under Article 40(2) and the
registration surcharge under Article 43(1), or the registration fee due and payable at the time
of filing of the application for registration of renewal under Article 412(7) and the
registration surcharge under Article 43(2).
(3) Upon registration as set forth under the preceding two paragraphs, the following matters
shall be published in the trademark bulletin:
(i) the name and the domicile or residence of the holder of trademark right;
(ii) the registration number and the date of registration of renewal; and
(iii) other necessary matters in addition to those listed in the preceding two items.
(Division of trademark right)
Article 24 (1) Where there are two or more designated goods or designated services for which a
trademark right shall apply, the trademark right may be divided for each of the designated
goods or designated services.
(2) Where a request for a trial is filed under Article 46(3), the division provided for in the
preceding paragraph may be made even after the extinguishment of the trademark right,
provided that a trial, retrial or court proceeding in connection with the case is pending.
(Transfer of trademark right)
Article 242 (1) Where there are two or more designated goods or designated services, the
trademark right may be divided into each of the designated goods or services in transferring
such right.
(2) A trademark right in connection with an application for trademark registration which falls
under Article 4(2) filed by the State, a local government, an agency thereof, or a nonprofit
22
organization undertaking a business for public interest may not be assigned.
(3) A trademark right in connection with an application for trademark registration that falls
under Article 4(2) filed by a nonprofit enterprise undertaking a business for public interest,
may not be transferred unless the business is transferred together with such right.
(4) A trademark right in connection with a regionally based collective trademark may not be
assigned.
(Transfer of collective trademark right)
Article 243 (1) Upon transfer, the trademark right to a collective trademark shall be deemed to
have been converted to a regular trademark right, except in the case as provided in the
following paragraph.
(2) Where the right holder of a collective trademark desires to transfer the collective trademark
right, the said right holder shall submit an application for registration of transfer accompanied
by a document stating thereof, and the documents provided in Article 7(3), to the
Commissioner of the Patent Office.
(Request for indication to prevent confusion arising from transfer of trademark
right)
Article 244 Where, as a result of transfer of a trademark right, the trademark right to a similar
registered trademark to be used in connection with identical goods or services, or the
trademark right to an identical or similar registered trademark to be used in connection with
similar goods or services becomes owned by a different holder of trademark right, if the use
of one of such registered trademarks for its designated goods or designated services by its
holder of trademark right, exclusive right to use or nonexclusive right to use is likely to
damage business interests (limited to those pertaining to the designated goods or designated
services using the said other registered trademark) of the other holder of trademark right or of
exclusive right to use, the other holder of trademark right or of exclusive right to use may
request the holder of trademark right, exclusive right to use or nonexclusive right to use to
affix an indication that may sufficiently prevent any confusion between the goods or services
pertaining to the business of the other party and those of its own.
(Effects of trademark right)
Article 25 The holder of trademark right shall have an exclusive right to use the registered
trademark in connection with the designated goods or designated services; provided, however,
that where an exclusive right to use the trademark is established in connection with the
trademark right, this provision shall not apply to the extent that the holder of exclusive right
23
to use has an exclusive right to use the registered trademark.
(Limitations of effects of trademark right)
Article 26 (1) A trademark right shall have no effect on any of the following trademarks
(including those which constitute part of other trademarks):
(i) a trademark indicating, in a common manner, one's own portrait, name, famous
pseudonym, professional name, pen name or famous abbreviation thereof;
(ii) a trademark indicating, in a common manner, the common name, place of origin,
place of sale, quality, raw materials, efficacy, intended purpose, shape, the method
or features including time of production or use, quantity or price of the designated
goods or goods similar thereto, or the common name, location of provision, quality,
articles to be used in such provision, efficacy, intended purpose, modes, method or
features including time of provision, quantity or price of services similar to the
designated goods;
(iii) a trademark indicating, in a common manner, the common name, location of
provision, quality, articles to be used in such provision, efficacy, intended purpose,
modes, method or features including time, quantity or price of provision of the
designated services or services similar thereto, or the common name, place of
origin, place of sale, quality, raw materials, efficacy, intended purpose, modes, the
method or features including time of production or use, quantity or price of goods
similar to the designated services;
(iv) a trademark customarily used for the designated goods or designated services or
goods or services similar thereto; or
(v) a trademark consisting solely of features provided by Cabinet Order among
features that are naturally provided to goods, etc.; and
(vi) in addition to those listed in each of the preceding items, a trademark which is
not used in such a mode that consumers may recognize the goods or services as
those pertaining to the business of a particular person.
(2) Item (i) of the preceding paragraph shall not apply where, after the registration of
establishment of the trademark right, one's own portrait, name, famous pseudonym,
professional name, pen name or famous abbreviation thereof is used for the purpose of unfair
competition.
(3) A trademark right shall have no effect against any of the following acts; provided, however,
that this shall apply only if such act is not performed for the purpose of unfair competition:
(i) to affix a geographical indication prescribed in Article 2(3) of the Act on Protection of the
Names of Specific Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Products and Foodstuffs (Act No. 84 of
24
2014; hereinafter referred to as the "Specific Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Product
Name Protection Act") (hereinafter referred to as a "geographical indication" in the following
item and item (iii)) to goods or packages of goods pursuant to the provisions of Article 3(1)
of the said Act (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 30 of the
said Act following the deemed replacement of terms; the same shall apply in the following
item and item (iii));
(ii) to assign, deliver, display for the purpose of assignment or delivery, import or export goods
or packages of goods to which a geographical indication has been affixed pursuant to the
provisions of Article 3(1) of the Specific Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Product Name
Protection Act; or
(iii) to display an invoice of goods with a geographical indication affixed thereto pursuant to
the provisions of Article 3(1) of the Specific Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Product
Name Protection Act.
(Scope of registered trademark, etc.)
Article 27 (1) The scope of a registered trademark shall be determined based on the trademark
stated in the application.
(2) The scope of the designated goods or designated services shall be determined based on the
statement in the application.
(3) In the case of paragraph (1), meanings of statement of the trademark stated in
the application shall be interpreted by considering the statement and materials of
Article 5(4).
Article 28 (1) A request for an advisory opinion on the effects of a trademark right may be filed
to the Patent Office.
(2) Upon receipt of the request under the preceding paragraph, the Commissioner of the Patent
Office shall designate three administrative judges and have them make an advisory opinion.
(3) Articles 71(3) and 71(4) of the Patent Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the advisory
opinion provided for in paragraph (1).
Article 282 (1) Where the Commissioner of the Patent Office is commissioned by a court to
provide an expert opinion on the effects of a trademark right, the Commissioner shall
designate three administrative judges and have them provide such expert opinion.
(2) Articles 712(2) of the Patent Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the commissioned
provision of the expert opinion provided for in paragraph (1).
25
(Relationship with another person's patent right, etc.)
Article 29 Where the use of a registered trademark in a particular manner in connection with its
designated goods or designated services conflicts with another person's right to a patent,
utility model or design for which an application has been filed prior to the filing date of an
application of the said registered trademark or upon another person's copyright or
neighboring right arising prior to the filing date of the same, the holder of trademark right,
exclusive right to use or nonexclusive right to use may not use the registered trademark in
the same manner on the conflicting part of the designated goods or designated services.
(Exclusive right to use)
Article 30 (1) The holder of trademark right may establish an exclusive right to use to the
trademark to which he/she holds the right; provided, however, that this provision shall not
apply to the trademark right pertaining to an application for trademark registration provided
in Article 4(2) or a regionally based collective trademark.
(2) The holder of exclusive right to use shall have an exclusive right to use a registered
trademark in connection with the designated goods or designated services to the extent
provided by the agreement under which such right is granted.
(3) The exclusive right to use may be transferred only where the consent of the holder of
trademark right is obtained or where the transfer falls under general succession including
inheritance.
(4) Articles 77(4) and 77(5) (establishment of pledge, etc.), 97(2) (waiver), and 98(1)(ii) and
98(2) (effects of registration) of the Patent Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to an exclusive
right to use.
(Nonexclusive right to use)
Article 31 (1) The holder of trademark right may grant to another person a nonexclusive right
to use to the trademark to which he/she holds the right; provided, however, that this provision
shall not apply to the trademark right pertaining to an application for trademark registration
provided in Article 4(2).
(2) The holder of nonexclusive right to use shall have the right to use the registered trademark
for the designated goods or designated services to the extent provided by the agreement under
which such right is granted.
(3) A nonexclusive right to use may be transferred only where the consent of the holder of
trademark right (the holders of trademark right and of exclusive right to use in the case of a
nonexclusive right to use granted in connection with an exclusive right to use) is obtained or
where the transfer falls under general succession including inheritance.
26
(4) When a nonexclusive right to use is registered, the nonexclusive right to use shall have
effect on any person who subsequently acquires the trademark right or the exclusive right to
use, or the exclusive right to use on the trademark right.
(5) The transfer, modification, extinguishment or restriction on disposition of a nonexclusive
right to use shall have no effect on any third party unless registered.
(6) Articles 73(1) (joint ownership), 94(2) (establishment of right of pledge) and 97(3) (waiver)
of the Patent Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to a nonexclusive right to use.
(Right of members of corporation or association)
Article 312 (1) Members of a juridical person provided in Article 7(1) holding a trademark
right to a collective trademark (hereinafter referred to as "collective members") or members
of an association, etc. holding a trademark right to a regionally based collective trademark
(hereinafter referred to as "regional collective members") shall have the right to use a
registered trademark relating to collective trademark or regionally based collective trademark
for the designated goods or designated services as provided by the said juridical person or
association, etc.; provided, however, that in the case and only to the extent that an exclusive
right to use the registered trademark (limited to the trademark right pertaining to a collective
trademark) has been established.
(2) The right provided for in the main clause of the preceding paragraph may not be transferred.
(3) For the purpose of application of Articles 244, 29, 50, 522, 53 and 73, collective members
or regional collective members shall be deemed to be holders of nonexclusive right to use.
(4) For the purpose of the application of Article 33(1)(iii) in relation to registered trademarks in
connection with collective trademarks and regionally based collective trademarks, "or a
person who has the nonexclusive right to use which is effective regarding the trademark
right or the exclusive right to use under Article 31(4) of this Act. " in the said item shall read,
"or a person who has the nonexclusive right to use which is effective regarding the
trademark right or the exclusive right to use under Article 31(4) of this Act, or collective
members or regional collective members who have the right to use the said trademark."
(Right to use trademark arising from prior use)
Article 32 (1) Where a trademark identical with, or similar to, the trademark for which the
application is filed by another person has been used in Japan in connection with the
designated goods or designated services of the trademark for which the application is filed, or
in connection with goods or services similar thereto, without any intention to be engaged in
unfair competition, from the time prior to the filing of such other person's application for the
said trademark registration, and as a result, at the time of filing of the application for
27
trademark registration (at the time of filing of the original application for trademark
registration or the submission of a written amendment, if the application for trademark
registration is deemed to have been filed at the time of submission of a written amendment
under Article 94 of this Act or Article 173(1) of the Design Act as applied mutatis mutandis
under Article 172(1) or 552(3) of this Act (including its mutatis mutandis application under
Article 602(2))), such trademark has become well known among consumers as that
indicating goods or services pertaining to the business of the person, the person shall have the
right to use the trademark in connection with such goods or services as far as the said person
continuously uses the trademark for the goods or services. The same shall apply to those by
whom such business is succeeded.
(2) The holder of trademark right or of exclusive right to use may request the person who has
the right to use the trademark pursuant to the preceding paragraph to affix an indication that
may sufficiently prevent any confusion between the goods or services pertaining to the
business of the said person and those of its own.
Article 322 (1) Any person who has been using in Japan a trademark identical with, or similar
to, a regionally based collective trademark for which an application for registration is filed by
another person in connection with the designated goods or designated services for which the
application for trademark registration is filed, or in connection with goods or services similar
thereto, without any intention to be engaged in unfair competition, prior to the filing of such
other person's application for trademark registration of the said regionally based collective
trademark, shall have the right to use the trademark in connection with such goods or services
as far as the said person continuously uses the trademark in connection with such goods or
services. The same shall apply to those by whom such business is succeeded.
(2) The holder of trademark right may request the person who has the right to use the trademark
pursuant to the preceding paragraph to affix an indication that may sufficiently prevent any
confusion between the goods or services pertaining to the business of the said person and
those of its own or its members.
(Right to use trademark arising from use prior to registration of request for
invalidation trial)
Article 33 (1) Where, prior to the registration of a request for a trial provided for in Article
46(1), a person falling under any of the following items has been using in Japan a registered
trademark or a trademark similar thereto in connection with the designated goods or
designated services or goods or services similar thereto without the knowledge that the said
trademark registration falls under any of the items of the said paragraph, and the said
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trademark has become well known among consumers as that indicating goods or services
pertaining to its business, the person shall have the right to use the trademark in connection
with such goods or services as far as the said person continuously uses the trademark for such
goods or services; the same shall apply to those by whom such business is succeeded:
(i) the original holder of trademark right, where one of two or more trademark
registrations for identical or similar trademarks to be used in connection with
identical or similar designated goods or designated services has been invalidated;
(ii) the original holder of trademark right, where the trademark registration has
been invalidated and a trademark identical with, or similar to, such trademark to
be used in connection with identical or similar designated goods or designated
services is registered for the person who is entitled to such a trademark; or
(iii) in the case of the preceding two items, a person who, at the time of registration
of the request for a trial under Article 46(1), has the exclusive right to use of the
trademark right of the trademark registration which has been invalidated or a
person who has the nonexclusive right to use which is effective regarding the
trademark right or the exclusive right to use under Article 31(4) of this Act.
(2) The said holder of trademark right or of exclusive right to use shall be entitled to receive
reasonable compensation from the person who has the right to use the trademark pursuant to
the preceding paragraph.
(3) Article 32(2) shall apply mutatis mutandis to paragraph (1).
(Right to use trademark after expiration of duration of patent right, etc.)
Article 332 (1) Where a patent right of an application that has been filed prior to or on the same
date as the filing date of an application for trademark registration conflicts with the trademark
right of the application for trademark registration, upon expiration of the duration of the said
patent right, the original patent right holder shall have the right to use the registered
trademark or a trademark similar thereto in connection with the designated goods or
designated services specified in the application, or goods or services similar thereto, within
the limits of the original patent right; provided, however, that such trademark is not used for
the purpose of unfair competition.
(2) Article 32(2) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the preceding paragraph.
(3) The preceding two paragraphs shall apply mutatis mutandis, where a utility model or design
right of an application that has been filed prior to or on the same date as the filing date of an
application for trademark registration conflicts with the trademark right of the application for
trademark registration, upon expiration of the duration of such utility model right or design
right.
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Article 333 (1) Where a patent right of an application that has been filed prior to or on the same
date as the filing date of an application for trademark registration conflicts with the trademark
right of the application for trademark registration, upon expiration of the duration of the said
patent right, the person who, at the time of expiration of the duration of the patent right, has
the exclusive license to work the patent right, or a nonexclusive license to work which is
effective on the patent right or on the exclusive license to work, shall have the right to use the
registered trademark or a trademark similar thereto, within the limits of the original patent
right, in connection with the designated goods or designated services specified in the
application for trademark registration, or goods or services similar thereto; provided, however,
that such trademark is not used for the purpose of unfair competition.
(2) Articles 32(2) and 33(2) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the preceding paragraph.
(3) The preceding two paragraphs shall apply mutatis mutandis, where a utility model or a
design right of an application which has been filed prior to or on the same date as the filing
date of an application for trademark registration conflicts with the trademark right of the
application for trademark registration, upon expiration of the duration of such utility model
right or design right.
(Pledges)
Article 34 (1) Where a pledge is established on a trademark right, exclusive right to use or
nonexclusive right to use, unless otherwise provided for by contract, the pledgee may not use
the registered trademark in connection with the designated goods or designated services.
(2) The establishment, transfer, modification, extinguishment or restriction on disposition of a
pledge on a nonexclusive right to use shall have no effect on any third party without
registration.
(3) Article 96 (subrogation) of the Patent Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to pledges on a
trademark right, exclusive right to use or nonexclusive right to use.
(4) Article 99(3) (effects of registration) of the Patent Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to
pledges on a nonexclusive right to use.
(Mutatis mutandis application of the Patent Act)
Article 35 Article 73 (coownership), 76 (Lapse of patent rights in absence of heir), 97(1)
(waiver), and 98(1)(i) and 98(2) (Effect of registration) of the Patent Act shall apply mutatis
mutandis to trademark rights. In this case, the term "transfer (excluding those by general
succession including inheritance)" in Article 98(1)(i) of the Patent Act shall be deemed to be
replaced with "division and transfer (excluding those by general succession including
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inheritance)."
Section 2 Infringement of Rights
(Right to demand injunction)
Article 36 (1) The holder of trademark right or of exclusive right to use may demand a person
who is infringing or is likely to infringe the trademark right or the exclusive right to use to
stop or prevent such infringement.
(2) In making such a demand under the preceding paragraph, the holder of trademark right or of
exclusive right to use may demand the person to take measures necessary for the prevention
of such infringement, including the destruction of articles which constitute the act of
infringement and the removal of equipment used for or contributing to the act of
infringement.
(Acts deemed to constitute infringement)
Article 37 The following acts shall be deemed to constitute infringement of a trademark right or
an exclusive right to use:
(i) the use of a trademark similar to the registered trademark in connection with the
designated goods or designated services, or the use of the registered trademark or
a trademark similar thereto in connection with goods or services similar to the
designated goods or designated services;
(ii) the possession for the purpose of assignment, delivery or export of the
designated goods, or goods similar to the designated goods or designated services,
affixed with the registered trademark or a trademark similar thereto on the goods
or their packages;
(iii) the possession or importation of articles affixed with the registered trademark
or a trademark similar thereto, that are used in the course of the provision of
designated services or services similar to the designated services or the
designated goods by a person who receives the said services, for the purpose of the
provision of the said services through use of the said articles;
(iv) the assignment, delivery, or possession or importation for the purpose of
assignment or delivery of articles affixed with a registered trademark or a
trademark similar thereto, that are used in the course of the provision of
designated services or services similar to the designated services or the
designated goods by a person who receives the said services, for the purpose of
causing the provision of the said services through use of the said products;
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(v) the possession of products indicating the registered trademark or a trademark
similar thereto, for the purpose of using the registered trademark or a trademark
similar thereto in connection with the designated goods or designated services, or
goods or services similar thereto;
(vi) the assignment, delivery, or possession for the purpose of assignment or delivery,
of articles indicating the registered trademark or a trademark similar thereto, for
the purpose of causing the registered trademark or a trademark similar thereto to
be used in connection with the designated goods or designated services, or goods
or services similar thereto;
(vii) the manufacture or importation of products indicating the registered
trademark or a trademark similar thereto, for the purpose of using or causing to
be used the registered trademark or a trademark similar thereto in connection
with the designated goods or designated services or goods or services similar
thereto; and
viii) the manufacture, assignment, delivery or importation, as a business, of
products to be used exclusively for the manufacturing of products indicating the
registered trademark or a trademark similar thereto.
(Presumption of amount of damage, etc.)
Article 38 (1) Where a holder of trademark right or of exclusive right to use claims against an
infringer compensation for damage sustained as a result of the intentional or negligent
infringement of the trademark right or the exclusive right to use, and the infringer assigned
the goods that composed the act of infringement, the amount of damage sustained by the
holder of trademark right or of exclusive right to use may be presumed to be the amount of
profit per unit of goods which would have been sold by the holder of trademark right or of
exclusive right to use if there had been no such act of infringement, multiplied by the quantity
of goods assigned by the infringer (hereinafter referred to as the "Assigned Quantity"), the
maximum of which shall be the amount attainable by the holder of trademark right or of
exclusive right to use in light of the capability of the holder of trademark right or of exclusive
right to use to use such goods; provided, however, that if any circumstances exist under
which the holder of trademark right or of exclusive right to use would have been unable to
sell the assigned quantity in whole or in part, the amount calculated as the number of goods
not able to be sold due to such circumstances shall be deducted.
(2) Where the holder of trademark right or of exclusive right to use claims against an infringer
compensation for damage sustained as a result of the intentional or negligent infringement of
the trademark right or the exclusive right to use, and the infringer earned profits from the act
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of infringement, the amount of profits earned by the infringer shall be presumed to be the
amount of damage sustained by the holder of trademark right or of exclusive right to use.
(3) The holder of trademark right or of exclusive right to use may claim against an infringer
compensation for damage sustained as a result of the intentional or negligent infringement of
the trademark right or the exclusive right to use, by regarding the amount the holder of
trademark right or of exclusive right to use would have been entitled to receive for the use of
the registered trademark as the amount of damage sustained.
(4) The preceding paragraph shall not prevent any relevant party from claiming compensation
for damage in an amount exceeding the amount provided therein. In this case, where the
infringer committed the infringement of the trademark right or the exclusive right to use
without intent or gross negligence, the court may take these circumstances into consideration
in determining the amount of damages to be awarded.
(Limitation to assertion)
Article 382 Where the following trial decisions or rulings have become final and binding after
the final judgment on a litigation pertaining to infringement of the trademark right or the
exclusive right to use or to a claim for payment of money as provided in Article 132(1)
(including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis in Article 68(1)) has become final and
binding, a person who was a party of the said litigation may not claim that the said trial
decisions or rulings have become final and binding in the appeal for retrial against the said
final judgment (including appeals for the purpose of the claim of the compensation for
damages against an obligee of a case of provisional seizure order in which the said litigation
is the case and appeals for the purpose of the claim of the compensation for damages and the
return for unjust enrichment against an obligee of the case of provisional disposition order in
which the said litigation is the case):
(i) appeal/trial decision to the effect that the said trademark registration is to be
invalidated;
(ii) a decision to the effect that the said trademark registration is to be rescinded.
(Mutatis mutandis application of the Patent Act)
Article 39 Articles 103 (Presumption of negligence), 1042 (Obligation to clarify the specific
condition); 1043(1) and (2) (Restriction on exercise of rights of patentee, etc.), 105 to 1056
(Production of documents, etc.; Expert opinion for calculation of damages; Determination of
reasonable damages; Protective order; Rescission of protective order and Notice, etc. of a
request inspection of record, etc.) and 106 (Measures to restore credibility) of the Patent Act
shall apply mutatis mutandis to the infringement of a trademark right and an exclusive right
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to use.
Section 3 Registration Fees
(Registration fees)
Article 40 (1) A person obtaining the registration of establishment of a trademark right shall pay
as a registration fee for each trademark registration the amount of 28,200 yen multiplied by
the number of classes (referring to classes of goods and services provided by Cabinet Order
provided for in Article 6(2), to which the designated goods or designated services belong; the
same shall apply hereinafter).
(2) A person filing a request for the registration of renewal of the duration of a trademark right
shall pay as a registration fee for each trademark registration the amount of 38,800 yen
multiplied by the number of classes.
(3) The preceding two paragraphs shall not apply to trademark rights belonging to the State.
(4) Where a trademark right is jointly owned by the State and a person or persons other than the
State, and the portion of their respective shares of the said trademark right has been agreed,
notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), the registration fee provided for in the said
paragraphs shall be the amount of the registration fee provided in the said paragraphs
multiplied by the total ratio of the share of each person other than the State, which shall be
paid by the person or persons other than the State.
(5) Any fractional figures of the registration fee calculated in accordance with the preceding
paragraph smaller than 10 yen, if any, shall be discarded.
(6) The registration fee provided for in paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be paid by patent revenue
stamps as provided by Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; provided,
however, that the payment may be made in cash if permitted under the Ordinance of the
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
(Time limit for payment of registration fees)
Article 41 (1) The registration fee under Article 40(1) shall be paid within 30 days from the
service of a transcript of an examiner's decision or an appeal/trial decision to the effect that a
trademark is to be registered.
(2) Upon the request of a person required to pay the registration fee, the Commissioner of the
Patent Office may extend the period of time provided in the preceding paragraph by a
maximum of 30 days.
(3) Where a person required to pay the registration fee is unable to pay the registration fee
within the time limit under paragraph (1) (where the time limit under the preceding paragraph
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is extended, the extended time limit), the said person may, in accordance with Ordinance of
the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, pay the said registration fee only within the
time limit as provided in Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, even
after the expiration of the time limit.
(4) Where, due to reasons beyond the control of a person required to pay a registration fee, the
person is unable to pay the registration fee within the time limit for payment of the
registration fee provided in the preceding paragraph, the said person may, notwithstanding
the provisions of the said paragraph, pay the registration fee within 14 days (two months for
resident abroad) from the date on which the reasons for not paying ceased to be applicable,
but not later than six months after the expiration of the said time limit.
(5) The registration fee under Article 40(2) shall be paid at the time of filing of a request for
renewal of registration.
(Payment of registration fee by installments)
Article 412 (1) Notwithstanding Article 40(1), a person obtaining a registration of
establishment of a trademark right may pay the prescribed registration fee by installments. In
this case, 16,400 yen multiplied by the number of classes shall be paid for each trademark
registration within 30 days from the service of a transcript of an examiner's decision or
appeal/trial decision to the effect that a trademark is to be registered, and an additional 16,400
yen multiplied by the number of classes shall be paid for each trademark registration no later
than five years prior to the expiration of the duration of the trademark right.
(2) Upon the request of a person required to pay the registration fee to be paid within 30 days
from the service of a transcript of an examiner's decision or appeal/trial decision to the effect
that a trademark is to be registered has been made under the preceding paragraph (hereinafter,
referred to as "an earlierinstallation registration fee"), the Commissioner of the Patent Office
may extend the time limit as provided in the said paragraph by a period not exceeding 30
days.
(3) Where a person required to pay an earlierinstallment registration fee is unable to pay the fee
within the time limit during which the said person is required to pay the fee (where the time
limit under the preceding paragraph is extended, within the extended time limit), the said
person may, in accordance with Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry,
pay the earlierinstallment registration fee only within the time limit as provided in Ordinance
of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, even after the expiration of the time limit.
(4) Where, due to reasons beyond the control of a person required to pay an earlierinstallment
registration fee, the person is unable to pay the earlierinstallment registration fee within the
time limit for payment of the fee as provided in the preceding paragraph, the said person may,
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notwithstanding the provision of the said paragraph, pay the registration fee within 14 days
(two months for a resident abroad) from the date on which the reasons for not paying the fee
ceased to be applicable, but not later than six months after the expiration of the said time
limit.
(5) Where a person required to pay a registration fee due and payable no later than five years
prior to the expiration of the duration of the trademark right under paragraph (1) (hereinafter
referred to as "a laterinstallment registration fee") is unable to pay the laterinstallment
registration fee within the time limit during which the said person is required to pay the fee,
the person may make a late payment of the said laterinstallment registration fee even after
the expiration of the said time limit, but not later than 6 months following the expiration of
the said time limit.
(6) Where the laterinstallment registration fee and the registration surcharge under Article 43
(3) have not been paid within the time limit for late payment of the laterinstallment
registration fee under the preceding paragraph, the trademark right shall be deemed to have
been extinguished retroactively upon the day which is five years prior to the expiration of the
duration of the trademark right.
(7) Notwithstanding Article 40(2), a person filing a request for the registration of renewal of the
duration of a trademark right may pay the prescribed registration fee by installments. In this
case, the said applicant shall pay 22,600 yen multiplied by the number of classes for each
trademark registration at the time of filing of the request for the registration of renewal, and
an additional 22,600 yen multiplied by the number of classes for each trademark registration
no later than five years prior to the expiration of the duration of the trademark right.
(8) The provisions of paragraphs (5) and (6) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the case where late
payment of the registration fee to be paid not later than five years prior to the expiration of
the duration of the trademark right under the preceding paragraph, is made. In this case, the
term "paragraph (1)" in paragraph (5) shall be deemed to be replaced with "paragraph (7)".
(9) The provisions of paragraphs (3) to (5) of Article 40 shall apply mutatis mutandis to
paragraphs (1) and (7).
(Restoration of a trademark right by late payment of a laterinstallment
registration fee)
Article 413 (1) Where the original holder of a trademark right which was deemed to
have been extinguished pursuant to Article 412(6) has justifiable reasons for
having been unable to pay the laterinstallment registration fee and the
registration surcharge under Article 43(3) within the time limit for late payment of
the laterinstallment registration fee as provided in the paragraph (5) of the said
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Article, the said original holder may make a late payment for such laterinstallment
registration fee and registration surcharge only within the time limit provided by
Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
(2) Where a late payment of the laterinstallment registration fee and the
registration surcharge under Article 43(3) is made under the preceding paragraph,
the trademark right shall be deemed to have been existed retroactively since the
day preceding the five years prior to the expiration of the duration.
(3) The provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall apply mutatis mutandis to
the case where late payment of the registration fee to be paid not later than five
years prior to the expiration of the duration of the trademark right and the
registration surcharge under Article 43(3) are made under paragraph (7) of the
preceding Article.
(Limitations of effects of trademark right restored by late payment of a
laterinstallment registration fee, etc.)
Article 414 The effects of a trademark right restored pursuant to paragraph (2) of
the preceding Article may not be effective against the following acts conducted after
the expiration of the time limit for the late payment of a laterinstallment
registration fee but before the registration that the trademark right is deemed to
have been existed pursuant to paragraph (2) of the preceding Article, under Article
412(5):
(i) the use of the registered trademark in connection with the designated goods or
the designated services; and
(ii) the acts provided for in each item of Article37.
(2) The provision of the preceding paragraph shall apply mutatis mutandis to the
effects of a trademark right restored pursuant to paragraph (2) of the preceding
Article as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (3) of the preceding
Article.
(Payment of registration fee by interested person)
Article 415 (1) Any interested person may make payment of the registration fee (excluding the
registration fee due and payable at the time of filing of a request for renewal of registration)
even against the intention of the person by whom the said fee is to be paid.
(2) An interested person who makes payment of the registration fee in accordance with the
preceding paragraph may demand payment to reimburse the expense thereof from the person
by whom the said fee was to have been paid, to the extent that the said person receives actual
37
benefits therefrom.
(Refund of registration fee already paid)
Article 42 (1) Only the following registration fees are refundable upon request by a payee:
(i) a registration fee paid in excess, or in error; or
(ii) a registration fee due and payable no later than five years prior to the expiration
of the duration of the trademark right under Article 412(1) or 412(7) (limited to
the case where a rescission decision under Article 433(2) or appeal/trial decision
to the effect that a trademark registration is to be invalidated becomes final and
binding no later than five years prior to the expiration of the duration of the
trademark right).
(2) No refund of any registration fee under the preceding paragraph may be requested after the
lapse of one year from the day on which the registration fee is paid in the case of registration
fees provided for in item (i) of the preceding paragraph and six months from the day on
which a rescission decision under Article 433(2) or an appeal/trial decision becomes final
and binding in the case of registration fees provided for in item (ii) of the preceding
paragraph.
(3) Where, due to reasons beyond the control of the person, the person filing a request for
refund a registration fee is unable to file the request within the time limit as provided in
paragraph (1), the said person may, notwithstanding the said paragraph, file the request
within 14 days (two months for resident abroad) from the date on which the reasons for not
filing ceased to be applicable, but not later than six months after the expiration of the said
time limit.
(Registration surcharge)
Article 43 (1) A person filing a request for renewal of registration under Article 20(3) or 21(1)
shall pay, in addition to the registration fee due and payable under Article 40(2), a surcharge
in an amount equivalent to the registration fee.
(2) Where Article 412(7) is applicable, a person filing a request provided in the preceding
paragraph shall pay, in addition to the registration fee due and payable at the time of filing of
the request for registration of renewal under Article 412(7), a surcharge in an amount
equivalent to the registration fee.
(3) Where Article 412(5) (including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to
paragraph (8) of the same Article) is applicable, the holder of trademark right shall pay, in
addition to the registration fee due and payable no later than five years prior to the expiration
of the duration of the trademark right under paragraph (1) or (7) of the same Article, a
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surcharge in an amount equivalent to the registration fee.
(4) The surcharges under the preceding three paragraphs shall be paid by patent revenue stamps
as provided by Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; provided,
however, that the payment may be made in cash, if permitted by Ordinance of the Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry.
CHAPTER IV2 OPPOSITION TO REGISTRATION
(Opposition to registration)
Article 432 Any person may file with the Commissioner of the Patent Office an opposition to
registration within two months from the date of publication of the bulletin containing the
trademark, on the grounds that the trademark registration falls under any of the following
items; in this case, an opposition to registration may be filed for each of designated goods or
designated services if the relevant trademark has been registered in connection with two or
more designated goods or designated services:
(i) where the trademark registration has been made in violation of Article 3, 4(1),
72(1), 8(1), 8(2), 8(5), 51(2) (including its mutatis mutandis application under
Article 522(2)), 53(2) of this Act or Article 25 of the Patent Act as applied mutatis
mutandis under Article 77(3) of this Act; and
(ii) where the trademark registration has been made in violation of a treaty.
(iii) where the trademark registration has been made for an application for
trademark registration not satisfying the requirements under Article 5(5).
(Decision)
Article 433 (1) An examination and decision on an opposition to registration shall be
conducted by a panel consisting of three or five administrative judges.
(2) Where the administrative judges find the trademark registration pertaining to an opposition
to registration falls under any of the items of Article 432, the administrative judges shall
render a decision to the effect that the trademark registration is to be rescinded (hereinafter
referred to as "rescission decision").
(3) Where the rescission decision becomes final and binding, the relevant trademark right shall
be deemed never to have existed.
(4) Where the administrative judges find the trademark registration pertaining to an opposition
to registration does not fall under any of the items of Article 432, the administrative judges
shall render a decision to the effect that the trademark registration is to be maintained.
(5) The decision under the preceding paragraph shall not be subject to appeal.
39
(Formal requirements for filing an opposition, etc.)
Article 434 (1) A person filing an opposition to registration of a trademark shall submit to the
Commissioner of the Patent Office a written opposition stating the following matters:
(i) the name and the domicile or residence of the opponent to the registration and a
representative(s) thereof;
(ii) the indication of the trademark registration pertaining to the opposition to
registration; and
(iii) the grounds of the opposition to registration and the indication of supporting
evidence.
(2) An amendment of the written opposition to registration submitted under the preceding
paragraph shall not change the gist thereof. Notwithstanding, this provision shall not apply to
any amendment with respect to the matters provided for in item (iii) of the preceding
paragraph; provided that such amendment is made no later than thirty days from the lapse of
the term provided in Article 432.
(3) The Commissioner of the Patent Office may, upon request or ex officio, extend the period
provided in the preceding paragraph for a person in a remote area or an area with
transportation difficulties.
(4) The chief administrative judge shall transmit a copy of the written opposition to the holder
of trademark right.
(5) Article 46(4) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the case where an opposition to registration is
filed.
(Designation of administrative judges, etc.)
Article 435 Articles 136(2) and 137 to 144 of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis under
Article 56(1) of this Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the panel under Article 433(1) and
the administrative judges constituting thereof.
(Trial Clerk)
Article 435 (2) The Commissioner of the Patent Office shall designate a trial clerk for each
case of opposition to registration.
(2) The provisions of paragraphs (3) to (5) of Article 1442 of the Patent Act as applied mutatis
mutandis under Article 56(1) of this Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the trial clerk
provided for in the preceding paragraph.
(Proceedings of examination, etc.)
40
Article 436 (1) The examination of the opposition to registration shall be conducted by
documentary examination; provided, however, that where a petition is filed by the holder of
trademark right, the opponent, an intervenor or ex officio, the chief administrative judge may
decide to conduct the proceedings by oral examination.
(2) Paragraphs (3) to (5) of Articles 145, 146 and 147 of the Patent Act as applied mutatis
mutandis under Article 56(1) of this Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to an oral examination
provided for in the proviso to the preceding paragraph.
(3) Where any ground for suspension or termination of procedures is applicable to one of the
joint holders of trademark right for an examination and decision on an opposition to
registration, the said suspension or termination shall have effect on all such joint holders of
trademark right.
(Intervention)
Article 437 (1) In an examination to render a decision on an opposition to registration, any
person who has a right relating to the trademark right or any other person who has an interest
in the trademark right may intervene in the examination in order to assist the holder of
trademark right until the decision on the opposition to registration is rendered.
(2) Articles 148(4), 148(5) and 149 of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis under Article
56(1) of this Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the intervenor provided for in the preceding
paragraph.
(Examination and preservation of evidence)
Article 438 Articles 150 and 151 of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis under Article
56(1) of this Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the examination and preservation of
evidence in the examination of the opposition to registration.
(Ex officio examination)
Article 439 (1) In an examination of an opposition to registration, any grounds not pleaded by
the holder of trademark right, the opponent or the intervenor may be examined.
(2) In an examination of an opposition to registration, no examination shall be conducted on any
designated goods or designated services for which the opposition to registration is not raised.
(Joint or separate conduct of oppositions)
Article 4310 (1) Where two or more oppositions to registration are filed in relation to the same
trademark right, unless special circumstances exist, the examinations thereof shall be
conducted jointly.
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(2) An examination conducted jointly in accordance with the preceding paragraph may later be
divided.
(Withdrawal of opposition)
Article 4311 (1) An opposition to registration, once filed, may not be withdrawn after the
notification under Article 4312 is served.
(2) Article 155(3) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 56(2) of this Act
shall apply mutatis mutandis to the withdrawal of an opposition to registration.
(Notification of reasons for rescission)
Article 4312 Where the chief administrative judge intends to render a rescission decision, the
chief administrative judge shall notify the holder of trademark right and the intervenor of the
reasons for rescission of the trademark registration and give the said parties an opportunity to
submit a written opinion, designating a reasonable time limit.
(Formal requirements of decision)
Article 4313 (1) The decision with regard to an opposition to registration shall be rendered in
writing stating the following matters:
(i) the case number of the opposition to registration;
(ii) the name and the domicile or residence of the holder of trademark right, the
opponent, the intervenor and their representative(s);
(iii) an indication of the trademark registration on which the decision was rendered;
(iv) the conclusions of and reasons for the decision; and
(v) the date of the decision.
(2) Where a decision has been rendered, the Commissioner of the Patent Office shall serve a
transcript of the decision to the holder of trademark right, the opponent, the intervenor and
persons whose request for intervention in the examination on the opposition to registration
has been refused.
(Scope of final and binding decision)
Article 4314 A decision with regard to an opposition to registration shall become final and
binding for each case of opposition to registration; provided, however, that the decision with
regard to an opposition to registration filed against the designated goods or designated
services shall become final and binding for each designated goods or services.
(Mutatis mutandis application of provisions concerning appeal/trial)
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Article 4315 (1) Articles 133, 1332, 134(4), 135, 152, 168, paragraphs (3) to (6) of Article 169,
and 170 of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 56(1) of this Act shall
apply mutatis mutandis to an examination and a decision on an opposition to registration.
(2) Article 433(5) of this Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to a decision under Article 135 of
the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis under the preceding paragraph.
CHAPTER 5 TRIALS AND APPEALS
(Appeal against examiner's decision of refusal)
Article 44 (1) A person who has received an examiner's decision to the effect that an application
is to be refused and is dissatisfied may file a request for appeal against the examiner's
decision of refusal within three months from the date the transcript of the examiner's decision
has been served.
(2) Where, due to reasons beyond the control of the person, the person filing a request for
appeal pursuant to the preceding paragraph is unable to file the request within the time limit
as provided in the preceding paragraph, the said person may, notwithstanding the said
paragraph, file the request within 14 days (two months for resident abroad) from the date on
which the reasons for not filing ceased to be applicable, but not later than six months after the
expiration of the said time limit.
(Appeal against examiner's decision of dismissal of amendment)
Article 45 (1) Any person who has received a decision of dismissal of amendments under
Article 162(1) and is dissatisfied may file a request for appeal against the decision within
three months from the date the transcript of the decision has been served; provided, however,
that this provision shall not apply where a new application for trademark registration
provided in Article 173(1) of the Design Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article
172(1) of this Act is filed.
(2) Article 44(2) shall apply mutatis mutandis to a request for appeal under the preceding
paragraph.
(Invalidation trial of trademark registration)
Article 46 (1) Where a trademark registration falls under any of the following items, a request
for invalidation trial of the trademark registration may be filed; in this case, where the
trademark has been registered in connection with two or more designated goods or designated
services, a request may be filed for each of the designated goods or designated services:
(i) where the trademark registration has been made in violation of Article 3, 4(1),
43
72(1), 8(1), 8(2), 8(5), 51(2) (including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis
pursuant to Article 522(2)), 53(2) of this Act or Article 25 of the Patent Act as
applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 77(3) of this Act;
(ii) where the trademark registration has been made in violation of a treaty;
(iii) where the trademark registration has been made for an application for
trademark registration not satisfying the requirements under Article 5(5);
(iv) where the trademark registration has been made on an application for
trademark registration filed by a person who has not succeeded the rights
deriving from the application for trademark registration;
(v) where, after the trademark registration, the holder of trademark right has
become unable to enjoy the trademark right pursuant to Article 25 of the Patent
Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 77(3) of this Act, or the
trademark registration has become in violation of a treaty;
(vi) where, after the trademark registration, the registered trademark has become a
trademark that falls under any of Articles 4(1)(i) to 4(1)(iii), 4(1)(v), 4(1)(vii) and
4(1)(xvi); and
(vii) where, after the trademark registration of a regionally based collective
trademark, the holder of trademark right has ceased to be an Association, etc., or
the registered trademark has ceased to be a trademark well known among
consumers as that indicating goods or services in connection with the business of
the holder of trademark right or its members, or ceases to fall under any of the
items of Article 72(1).
(2) A request for a trial under the preceding paragraph may be filed only by an interested
person.
(3) A request for a trial under paragraph (1) may be filed even after the extinguishment of the
trademark right.
Article 462 (1) Where a trial decision to the effect that the trademark registration is to be
invalidated becomes final and binding, the trademark right shall be deemed never to have
existed; provided, however, that where the trademark registration falls under any of items (v)
to (vii) of paragraph (1) of Article 46, and a trial decision to the effect that the trademark
registration is to be invalidated becomes final and binding, the trademark right shall be
deemed not to have existed from the time any of items (v) to (vii) of the said paragraph first
became applicable to the trademark registration.
(2) In the case of the proviso to the preceding paragraph, where the time at which any of items
(v) to (vii) of Article 46(1) first became applicable to the trademark registration cannot be
44
specified, the trademark right shall be deemed not to have existed from the date of
registration of the request for invalidation trial of the said trademark registration.
Article 47 (1) Where a trademark registration has been made in violation of Article 3, 4(1)(viii),
4(1)(xi) to 4(1)(xiv), 8(1), 8(2) or 8(5), where a trademark registration has been made in
violation of Article 4(1)(x) or 4(1)(xvii) (excluding the case where a trademark has been
registered for the purpose of unfair competition), where a trademark has been registered in
violation of item (xv) of the said paragraph (excluding the case where a trademark has been
registered for unfair purposes), or where a trademark registration falls under Article 46(1)(iv),
a request for a trial relating to the trademark registration under Article 46(1) may not be filed
after a lapse of five years from the date of registration of the establishment of the trademark
right.
(2) Where a trademark registration has been made in violation of Article 72(1) (limited to the
case where the trademark was not well known, as a result of the use of the trademark, among
consumers as that indicating goods or services in connection with the business of the
applicant for the trademark registration or its members) and five years have lapsed from the
date of registration of the establishment of the trademark right, and further the registered
trademark is well known among consumers as that indicating goods and services in
connection with the business of the holder of trademark right or its members, a request for a
trial pertaining to the trademark registration under Article 46(1) may not be filed.
Article 48 and Article 49 Deleted
(Trial for rescission of trademark registration)
Article 50 (1) Where a registered trademark (including a trademark deemed identical from
common sense perspective with the registered trademark, including a trademark consisting of
characters identical with the registered trademark but in different fonts, a trademark that is
written in different characters, Hiragana characters, Katakana characters, or Latin alphabetic
characters, from the registered trademark but identical with the registered trademark in terms
of pronunciation and concept, and a trademark consisting of figures that are considered
identical in terms of appearance as those of the registered trademark; hereinafter the same
shall apply in this article) has not been used in Japan in connection with any of the designated
goods and designated services for three consecutive years or longer by the holder of
trademark right, the exclusive right to use or nonexclusive right to use, any person may file a
request for a trial for rescission of such trademark registration in connection with the relevant
designated goods or designated services.
45
(2) Where a request for a trial under the preceding paragraph is filed, unless the demandee
proves that any of the holder of trademark right, exclusive right to use or nonexclusive right
to use has used the registered trademark in Japan in connection with any of the designated
goods or designated services pertaining to the request within three years prior to the
registration of the request for the trial, the holder of trademark right may not prevent the
rescission of the trademark registration in connection with the relevant designated goods or
designated services; provided, however, that this shall not apply where the demandee shows
just causes for nonuse of the registered trademark in connection with the relevant designated
goods or designated services.
(3) Where the registered trademark in connection with the designated goods or designated
services pertaining to the request under paragraph (1) has been used in Japan by any of the
holders of trademark right, exclusive right to use or nonexclusive right to use, during the
period from three months prior to the filing of the request for a trial under paragraph (1) to the
date of the registration of the filing of the request, and where the demandant proves that the
registered trademark has been used after the user became aware of the fact that the said
request for a trial would be filed, the use of the registered trademark shall not fall under the
use of the registered trademark provided in paragraph (1); provided, however, that this shall
not apply to the case where the demandee shows just causes for the use of the registered
trademark.
Article 51 (1) Where a holder of trademark right intentionally uses, either a trademark similar to
a registered trademark in connection with the designated goods or designated services, or a
registered trademark in connection with goods or services similar to the designated goods or
designated services or a trademark similar thereto, in a manner that misleads as to the quality
of the goods or services or causes confusion in connection with the goods or services
pertaining to a business of another person, any person may file a request for a trial for
rescission of the trademark registration.
(2) The previous holder of trademark right may not be granted a registration of the same
trademark or of a trademark similar thereto in connection with the designated goods or
designated services for which the trademark registration has been rescinded, or in connection
with goods or services similar thereto, until after a lapse of five years from the date the trial
decision to the effect that the trademark registration is to be rescinded under the preceding
paragraph becomes final and binding.
Article 52 A request for a trial under Article 51(1) may not be filed after the lapse of five years
from the date on which the holder of trademark right ceased to use the trademark in the
46
manner provided in the said paragraph.
Article 522 (1) Where a trademark right to a similar registered trademark to be used in
connection with identical goods or services, or a trademark right to an identical or similar
registered trademark to be used in connection with similar goods or services becomes owned
by a different holder of trademark right as a result of transfer of the trademark right, if the
holder of trademark right of one of the registered trademarks uses, for the purpose of unfair
competition, the registered trademark for its designated goods or designated services in a
manner that causes confusion in connection with the goods or services pertaining to the
business of the holder of trademark right, exclusive right to use or nonexclusive right to use
of the other registered trademark, any person may file a request for a trial for rescission of the
trademark registration.
(2) Articles 51(2) and 52 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a trial under the preceding paragraph.
Article 53 (1) Where a holder of exclusive right to use or nonexclusive right to use uses a
registered trademark in connection with the designated goods or designated services or in
connection with goods or services similar thereto, or a trademark similar thereto, in a manner
that misleads as to the quality of the goods or services or causes confusion in connection with
the goods or services pertaining to the business of another person, any person may file a
request for a trial for rescission of the trademark registration; provided, however, that this
shall not apply to the case where the holder of trademark right was not aware of the fact and
using due care.
(2) The previous holder of trademark right, exclusive right to use or nonexclusive right to use
who used the trademark in a manner provided in the preceding paragraph may not be granted
a registration of the same trademark or of a trademark similar thereto in connection with the
designated goods or designated services for which the trademark registration has been
rescinded, or in connection with goods or services similar thereto, until after the lapse of five
years from the date the trial decision to the effect that the trademark registration is to be
rescinded under the preceding paragraph becomes final and binding.
(3) Article 52 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a trial under paragraph (1).
Article 532 Where a registered trademark is a trademark pertaining to a right to a trademark
(limited to a right equivalent to a trademark right) held by a person in a country of the Union
to the Paris Convention, a member of the World Trade Organization or a Contracting Party to
the Trademark Law Treaty or a trademark similar thereto, and the designated goods or
designated services thereof are goods or services pertaining to the said right or goods or
services similar thereto, and further, the application for trademark registration was filed
without the approval of the person who has the right pertaining to the trademark, without a
47
just cause, by his/her agent or representative or by his/her former agent or representative
within one year prior to the filing date of the trademark registration, the person who has the
right pertaining to the trademark may file a request fora trial for rescission of the trademark
registration.
Article 533 A request fora trial under Article 532 may not be filed after the lapse of five years
from the date on which the establishment of the trademark right has been registered.
Article 54 (1) Where a trial decision to the effect that the trademark registration is to be
rescinded becomes final and binding, the trademark right shall become extinguished
thereafter.
(2) Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, where a trial decision to the effect that the
trademark registration is to be rescinded becomes final and binding by a trial under Article
50(1), the trademark right shall be deemed to have become extinguished on the date of
registration of the request for a trial under the said paragraph.
Article 55 The provision of Article 46(4) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the case where a
request for a trial is filed under Article 50(1), 51(1), 522(1), 53(1) or 532.
(Special provisions on appeal against examiner's decision of refusal)
Article 552 (1) The provisions of Articles 152 and 153 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the
case where reasons for refusal that are different from those contained in the examiner's
decision are found in the appeal under Article 44(1).
(2) The provision of Article 16 shall apply mutatis mutandis where a request for appeal/trial
under Article 44(1) is found to have reasonable grounds; provided, however, that this
provision shall not apply where appeal/trial decision to the effect that a further examination is
to be carried out under Article 160(1) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant
to Article 56(1) of this Act is rendered.
(3) The provisions of Article 162 of this Act and Article 173 of the Design Act shall apply
mutatis mutandis to appeal/trial under Article 44(1) of this Act. In this case, the term "three
months" in Article 162(3) of this Act and Article 173(1) of the Design Act shall be deemed
to be replaced with "thirty days" and the term "files a request for appeal/trial under Article
45(1)" in Article 162(4) shall be deemed to be replaced with "institutes an action under
Article 63(1)."
(Scope of final and binding appeal/trial decision)
48
Article 553 appeal/trial decision shall become final and binding for each appeal/trial case;
provided, however, that the appeal/trial decision of a request for appeal/trial under Article
46(1) of this Act filed for each designated goods or designated services shall become final
and binding for each designated goods or designated services.
(Mutatis mutandis application of the Patent Act)
Article 56 (1) The provisions of Articles 131(1), 1312(1)(excluding items (ii) and (iii)), 132 to
1332, 134(1), 134(3), 134(4), 135 to 154, 155(1), 155(2), 156(1), 156(3), 156(4), 157, 158,
160(1), 160(2), 161, 167, 168 to 170 (effect of appeal/trial decision, request for appeal/trial,
administrative judge, appeal/trial procedures in relation to litigation, and costs of appeal/trial)
of the Patent Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to appeal/trial. In this case, the term "ground
for the request as provided in paragraph (1) item (iii) of the preceding Article in the course of
filing a request for appeal/trial other than invalidation trial, or in the event that approval is
granted by the chief administrative judge under the following paragraph" in Article1312(1)
of the Patent Act shall be deemed to be replaced with "ground for the request as provided in
Article 131(1)(iii) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 56(1) of
this Act in the course of filing a request for appeal/trial other than appeal/trial under Article
46(1) of the Trademark Act" , the term "invalidation trial or invalidation trial of the
registration of extension of duration" in Articles 132(1) and 167 of the Patent Act and the
term "invalidation trial and an invalidation trial of the registration of extension of duration" in
Articles 145(1) and 169(1) of the Patent Act shall be deemed to be replaced with "appeal/trial
under Article 46(1), 50(1), 51(1), 522(1), 53(1) or 532 of the Trademark Act", the term ", in
appeal/trial other than invalidation trial, notify" in Article 156(1) of the Patent Act shall be
deemed to be replaced with "notify" , the term "appeal against the examiner's decision of
refusal" in Article 161 of the Patent Act and " appeal against an examiner's decision of refusal
and correction trial" in Article 169(3) of the Patent Act shall be deemed to be replaced with
"appeal/trial under Article 44(1) or 45(1) of the Trademark Act".
(2) The provisions of Article 155(3) (Withdrawal of request for trial) of the Patent Act shall
apply mutatis mutandis to a trial under Article 46(1) of this Act.
(Mutatis mutandis application of the Design Act)
Article 562 The provision of Article 51 of the Design Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to an
appeal under Article 45(1) of this Act.
CHAPTER 6 RETRIALAND LITIGATION
49
(Request for retrial)
Article 57 (1) A party or intervener in the case may file a request for a retrial against a final and
binding rescission decision or a final and binding appeal/trial decision.
(2) The provisions of Articles 338(1), 338(2) and 339 (grounds for retrial) of the Code of Civil
Procedure (Act No. 109 of 1996) shall apply mutatis mutandis to a request for appeal/trial
under the preceding paragraph.
Article 58 (1) Where the demandant of appeal/trial in conspiracy with the demandee has caused
appeal/trial decision to be rendered for the purpose of harming the right or interest of a third
party, the third party may file a request for a retrial against the final and binding appeal/trial
decision.
(2) A request for a retrial under the preceding paragraph shall be filed against the demandant
and the demandee in the appeal/trial as joint demandees.
(Limitations of effects of trademark right restored by a retrial)
Article 59 Where a trademark right pertaining to a rescinded or invalidated trademark
registration has been restored by a retrial, the trademark right shall have no effect on any of
the following acts:
(i) the use of the registered trademark in good faith in connection with the
designated goods or designated services after the rescission decision or
appeal/trial decision became final and binding but before the registration of the
request for a retrial; and
(ii) the acts listed in each of the items in Article 37 committed in good faith after the
rescission decision or appeal/trial decision became final and binding but before
the registration of the request for a retrial.
Article 60 (1) Where a trademark right pertaining to a rescinded or invalidated trademark
registration has been restored by a retrial or, where the establishment of a trademark right
with respect to an application for trademark registration refused by appeal/trial decision has
been registered through a retrial, and where a person, after the rescission decision or
appeal/trial decision becomes final and binding but before the registration of a request for a
retrial, uses the registered trademark or a trademark similar thereto in Japan in good faith in
connection with the designated goods or designated services or in connection with goods or
services similar thereto, and as a result, such trademark has become well known among
consumers as that indicating goods or services pertaining to the business of the person at the
time of registration of the filing of a request for a retrial, the person shall have the right to use
50
the trademark in connection with such goods or services as far as the said person
continuously uses the trademark for such goods or services. The same shall apply to those by
whom such business is succeeded.
(2) The provision of Article 32(2) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the preceding paragraph.
(Mutatis mutandis application of provisions concerning appeal/trial)
Article 602 (1) The provisions of Articles 433, 435 to 439 and 4312 to 4315 of this Act,
Article 131(1), the main clause of Article 1312(1), 132(3), 154, 155(1) and 156(1), 156(3),
156(4) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 56(1) of this Act, and
Article 155(3) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Articles 56(2) of this
Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to a retrial against a final and binding rescission decision.
(2) The provision of Article 552 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a retrial against a final and
binding appeal/trial decision on appeal/trial under Article 44(1).
(3) The provisions of Articles 553 and 562 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a retrial against a
final and binding appeal/trial decision on appeal/trial under Article 45(1).
(4) The provision of Article 553 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a retrial against a final and
binding appeal/trial decision on appeal/trial under Article 46(1), Article 50(1), Article 51(1),
Article 522(1), Article 53(1) or Article 532.
(Mutatis mutandis application of the Patent Act)
Article 61 The provisions of Article 173 (Time limit for request for retrial) and Articles 174(3)
and 174(5) (Application mutatis mutandis of provisions regarding appeal/trial, etc.) of the
Patent Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to a request for a retrial. In this case, the term
"Article 167 to 168" in paragraph (3) of the said Article shall be deemed to be replaced with
"Article 167, 168", the term "invalidation trial or invalidation trial of the registration of
extension of the duration" in Article 174(2) of the Patent Act shall be deemed to be replaced
with " appeal/trial under Article 46(1), 50(1), 51(1), 522(1), 53(1) or 532 of the Trademark
Act".
(Mutatis mutandis application of the Design Act)
Article 62 (1) The provision of Article 58(2) (Mutatis mutandis application of provisions
concerning appeal/trial) of the Design Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to a retrial against a
final and binding appeal/trial decision on appeal/trial under Article 44(1) of this Act. In this
case, the term "the main clause of Article 1672, 168" in Article 58(2) of the Design Act shall
be deemed to be replaced with "Article 168."
(2) The provision of Article 58(3) of the Design Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to a retrial
51
against a final and binding appeal/trial decision on appeal/trial under Article 45(1) of this Act.
In this case, the term "the main clause of Article 1672, 168" in Article 58(3) of the Design
Act shall be deemed to be replaced with "Article 168."
(Actions against appeal/trial decisions, etc.)
Article 63 (1) The Tokyo High Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any action against a
rescission decision or appeal/trial decision, an action against a ruling to dismiss an
amendment under Article 162(1) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 552(3)
(including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 602(2)) and an
action against a ruling to dismiss a written opposition or a written request for appeal/trial or
retrial.
(2) The provisions of paragraphs (2) to (6) of Article 178 (time limit for institution of action,
etc.), 179 to 182 (appropriate party as defendant, notice of institution of action, opinion of the
Commissioner of the Patent Office in litigation rescinding the appeal/trial decision, rescission
of the appeal/trial decision or ruling and delivery of original copy, etc. of judgment) of the
Patent Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the actions under the preceding paragraph. In this
case, the term "invalidation trial or invalidation trial of the registration of extension of the
during" in Article 179 of the Patent Act shall be deemed to be replaced with "appeal/trial
under Article 46(1), 50(1), 51(1), 522(1), 53(1) or 532 of the Trademark Act."
(Relationship between objection and litigation)
Article 632 The provision of Article 1842 (Relationship between (administrative) objection
and litigation) of the Patent Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to an action demanding the
rescission of measures (excluding measures provided in Article 77(7)) imposed by this Act or
an order thereunder.
CHAPTER 7 DEFENSIVE MARK
(Requirements for defensive mark registration)
Article 64 (1) Where a registered trademark pertaining to goods is well known among
consumers as that indicating the designated goods in connection with the business of a holder
of trademark right, the holder of trademark right may, where the use by another person of the
registered trademark in connection with goods other than the designated goods pertaining to
the registered trademark or goods similar thereto or in connection with services other than
those similar to the designated goods is likely to cause confusion between the said other
person's goods or services and the designated goods pertaining to his/her own business,
52
obtain a defensive mark registration for the mark identical with the registered trademark in
connection with the goods or services for which the likelihood of confusion exists.
(2) Where a registered trademark pertaining to services is well known among consumers as that
indicating the designated services in connection with the business of a holder of trademark
right, the holder of trademark right may, where the use by another person of the registered
trademark in connection with services other than the designated services pertaining to the
registered trademark or services similar thereto or in connection with goods other than those
similar to the designated services is likely to cause confusion between the said other person's
services or goods and the designated services pertaining to his/her own business, obtain a
defensive mark registration for the mark identical with the registered trademark in connection
with the services or goods for which the likelihood of confusion exists.
(3) For the purpose of the application of the preceding two paragraphs in relation to defensive
mark registrations pertaining to a trademark right pertaining to a regionally based collective
trademark, the term "his/her own" in the said paragraphs shall be deemed to be replaced with
"its own or its members' ."
(Conversion of application)
Article 65 (1) An applicant for trademark registration may convert an application for trademark
registration into an application for defensive mark registration.
(2) The conversion of an application under the preceding paragraph may not be made after the
examiner's decision or the appeal/trial decision on the application for trademark registration
becomes final and binding.
(3) The provisions of Articles 10(2), 10(3) and 11(5) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the
conversion of an application under paragraph (1).
(Duration of right based on defensive mark registration)
Article 652 (1) The duration of a right based on defensive mark registration shall expire after
ten years from the date of registration of the establishment of such right.
(2) The duration of a right based on defensive mark registration may be renewed by filing an
application for registration of renewal; provided, however, that this shall not apply to the case
where the registered defensive mark becomes unregistrable as a defensive mark pursuant to
Article 64.
(Registration of renewal of duration of right based on defensive mark registration)
Article 653 (1) A person filing an application for registration of renewal of the duration of a
right based on defensive mark registration shall submit to the Commissioner of the Patent
53
Office an application stating the following matters:
(i) the name and the domicile or residence of the applicant;
(ii) the registration number of the defensive mark registration; and
(iii) in addition to those listed in the preceding two items, matters provided by
Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
(2) An application for registration of renewal shall be filed during the period from six months
prior to the expiration of the duration of the right based on defensive mark registration to the
date of expiration thereof.
(3) Where a person filing an application for registration of renewal of the duration of a right
based on defensive mark registration has justifiable reasons for having been unable to file the
application for registration of renewal within the time limit for such application pursuant to
the preceding paragraph, the person may file such application only within the time limit
provided by Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
(4) Where an application for registration of renewal of the duration of a right based on defensive
mark registration is filed, the duration shall be deemed to have been renewed upon expiration
of the duration (where an application is filed under the preceding paragraph, upon filing of
the application); provided, however, that this shall not apply to the case where the examiner's
decision or appeal/trial decision to the effect that the application is to be refused becomes
final and binding or the renewal of the duration of a right based on defensive mark
registration is registered.
Article 654 (1) Where an application for registration of renewal of the duration of a right based
on defensive mark registration falls under any of the following items, the examiner shall
render a decision to the effect that the application is to be refused:
(i) the registered defensive mark pertaining to application is filed becomes
unregistrable as a defensive mark pursuant to Article 64; and
(ii) the applicant is not a person who has the right based on the defensive mark
registration.
(2) Where no reasons for refusal are found in connection with an application for registration of
renewal of the duration of a right based on defensive mark registration, the examiner shall
render a decision to the effect that the renewal is to be registered.
Article 655 The provisions of Articles 14 and 152 of this Act and Articles 48 (Exclusion of
examiners) and 52 (Formal requirements for examination) of the Patent Act shall apply
mutatis mutandis to an examination of an application for registration of renewal of the
duration of a right based on defensive mark registration.
54
(Registration of renewal of duration of right based on defensive mark registration)
Article 656 (1) Where a registration fee under Article 657(2) is paid, the renewal of the
duration of the right based on defensive mark registration shall be registered.
(2) Upon registration under the preceding paragraph, the following matters shall be published in
the trademark bulletin:
(i) the name and the domicile or residence of the person who has the right based on
defensive mark registration;
(ii) the registration number and the date of registration of renewal; and
(iii) other necessary matters in addition to those listed in the preceding two items.
(Registration fees)
Article 657 (1) A person obtaining a registration of establishment of a right based on defensive
mark registration shall pay as a registration fee for each defensive mark registration the
amount of 28,200 yen multiplied by the number of classes.
(2) A person obtaining a registration of renewal of the duration of a right based on defensive
mark registration shall pay as a registration fee for each defensive mark registration the
amount of 33,400 yen multiplied by the number of classes.
(3) The provisions of paragraphs (3) to (5) of Article 40 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the
preceding two paragraphs.
(Time limit for payment of registration fee)
Article 658 (1) A registration fee under Article 657(1) shall be paid within 30 days from the
service of a transcript of the examiner's decision or the appeal/trial decision to the effect that
a defensive mark is to be registered.
(2) A registration fee under Article 657(2) shall be paid within 30 days from the service of a
transcript of the examiner's decision or the appeal/trial decision to the effect that the renewal
of the duration of the right based on defensive mark registration is to be registered (where the
service is made prior to the expiration of the duration of the right based on defensive mark
registration, the date of expiration of the duration).
(3) The Commissioner of the Patent Office may extend the period of time provided in the
preceding two paragraphs by a maximum of 30 days upon the request of a person who is
required to pay the registration fee.
(4) Where a person required to pay a registration fee is unable to pay the registration fee within
the time limit under paragraph (1) or (2) (where the time limit under the preceding paragraph
is extended, the extended time limit), the said person may, in accordance with Ordinance of
55
the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, pay the said registration fee only within the
time limit as provided in Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, even
after the expiration of the time limit.
(5) Where, due to reasons beyond the control of a person, the person paying a registration fee is
unable to pay the registration fee within the time limit for payment of registration fees
pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the said person may, notwithstanding the said paragraph,
pay the registration fee within 14 days (two months for resident abroad) from the date on
which the reasons for not paying ceased to be applicable, but not later than six months after
the expiration of the said time limit.
(Payment of registration fees by interested persons)
Article 659 (1) Any interested person may make the payment of the registration fee under
Article 657(1) or 657(2) even against the intention of the person by whom the said fee is to
be paid.
(2) The interested person who makes the payment of the registration fee under the preceding
paragraph may request the person by whom the said payment was to be paid to reimburse the
expense thereof to the extent that the said person receives actual benefits therefrom.
(Refund of registration fee paid in excess or in error)
Article 6510 (1) A registration fee under Article 657(1) or 657(2) paid in excess or in error
shall be refunded upon the request of the person that paid them.
(2) No refund of a registration fee may be requested under the preceding paragraph after the
lapse of one year from the date of payment.
(3) Where the person making a request for the refund of a registration fee prescribed in
paragraph (1) is unable to make the request within the period prescribed in the preceding
paragraph due to reasons beyond his/her control, the person may make the request within 14
days (within 2 months for residents abroad) from the date the reason ceased to be applicable
but no later than 6 months after the lapse of the period, notwithstanding the provision of
paragraph (1).
(Incidental nature of right based on defensive mark registration)
Article 66 (1) The right based on defensive mark registration shall become extinguished when
the trademark right relating thereto is divided.
(2) When a trademark right is transferred, the right based on defensive mark registration shall be
transferred with the trademark right relating thereto.
(3) When a trademark right becomes extinguished, the right based on defensive mark
56
registration relating thereto shall become extinguished.
(4) Where a trademark right is deemed to have become extinguished under Article 20(4), the
effects of the right based on defensive mark registration pertaining to the trademark right
restored under Article 21(2) may not extend to the acts provided in each of the items of
Article 67 committed during the period after the expiration of the time limit for the filing of
an application for registration of renewal provided in Article 20(3) but before the registration
of renewal of the duration of the trademark right by an application under Article 21(1).
(5) Where a trademark right is deemed to have been extinguished under Article 412(6), the
right based on defensive mark registration pertaining to the trademark right restored under
Article 413(2) shall not be effective against the acts provided in each of the items of Article
67 conducted after the expiration of the time limit for making late payment of a
laterinstallment registration fee but before the registration to the effect that the trademark
right is deemed to have been existed under Article 413(2) is made, pursuant to Article
412(5).
(6) The provision of the preceding paragraph shall apply mutatis mutandis to the effects of the
right based on defensive mark registration pertaining to the trademark right restored under
Article 413(2) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 413(3).
(Acts deemed to constitute infringement)
Article 67 The following acts shall be deemed to constitute infringement of a trademark right or
an exclusive right to use:
(i) the use of the registered defensive mark in connection with the designated goods
or designated services;
(ii) the possession for the purpose of assignment, delivery or export of the
designated goods affixed with the registered defensive mark on the goods or their
packages;
(iii) the possession or importation of articles affixed with a registered defensive
mark, that are used in the course of the provision of designated services by a
person who receives the said services, for the purpose of the provision of the said
services through use of the said articles;
(iv) the assignment, delivery, or possession or importation for the purpose of
assignment or delivery of articles affixed with a registered defensive mark, that
are used in the course of the provision of designated services by a person who
receives the said services, for the purpose of causing the provision of the said
services through use of the said articles;
(v) the possession of articles indicating a registered defensive mark, for the purpose
57
of using the registered defensive mark in connection with the designated goods or
designated services;
(vi) the assignment, delivery, or possession for the purpose of assignment or delivery,
of articles indicating a registered defensive mark, for the purpose of causing the
registered defensive mark to be used in connection with the designated goods or
designated services; and
(vii) the manufacture or importation of articles indicating a registered defensive
mark, for the purpose of using the registered defensive mark or causing the
registered defensive mark to be used in connection with the designated goods or
designated services.
(Mutatis mutandis application of provisions concerning trademarks)
Article 68 (1) The provisions of Articles 5, 52, 6(1), 6(2), 92 to 10, 122, 13(1), and 132 shall
apply mutatis mutandis to an application for defensive mark registration. In this case, the
term "(iii) the designated goods or designated services and the class of the goods or services
provided by Cabinet Order as provided for in Article 6(2)" in Article 5(1) shall be deemed to
be replaced with "(iii) the designated goods or designated services and the class of the goods
or services provided by Cabinet Order as provided for in Article 6(2), (iv) the registration
number of the trademark registration pertaining to the application for defensive mark
registration," the term "(iv) the designated goods or designated services are not stated" in
Article 52(1) shall be deemed to be replaced with "(iv) the designated goods or designated
services are not stated, (v) the registration number of the trademark registration pertaining to
the application for defensive mark registration is not stated" and the term "Article 37" in
Article 132(5) shall be deemed to be replaced with "Article 67 (except the part pertaining to
item (i))."
(2) The provisions of Articles 14 to 152 and 16 to 172 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the
examination of an application for defensive mark registration. In this case, the term "Articles
3, 4(1), 72(1), 8(2), 8(5), 51(2) (including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis
pursuant to Article 522(2)), 53(2)" in Article 15(i) shall be deemed to be replaced with
"Article 64", and the term "Articles 5(5), or 6(1) or (2)" in Article 15(iii) shall be deemed to
be replaced with "Article 6(1) or (2)."
(3) The provisions of Article 18, 26 to 282, 32 to 333, 35, 382 and 69 of this Act and Article
1043(1), (2) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 39 of this Act
shall apply to a right based on defensive mark registration. In this case, the term "the
registration fee under Article 40(1) or the registration fee due and payable within thirty days
from the date of service of a transcript of the examiner's decision or appeal/trial decision to
58
the effect that the trademark is to be registered pursuant to Article 412(1)" in Article 18(2)
shall be deemed to be replaced with "the registration fee under Article 657(1)."
(4) The provisions of Articles 432 (except item (iii)) to 45, 46 (except paragraph (1)(iii) and
(vii)), 462, 532, 533, 54(1) and 552 to 562 shall apply mutatis mutandis to an opposition
to registration and appeal/trial pertaining to defensive mark registration. In this case, the term
"Articles 3, 4(1), 72(1), 8(1), 8(2), 8(5), 51(2) (including cases where it is applied mutatis
mutandis pursuant to Article 522(2)), 53(2)" in Articles 432(i) and 46(1)(i) shall be deemed
to be replaced with "Article 64" and the term "where ... the registered trademark has become
a trademark that falls under any of Articles 4(1)(i) to 4(1)(iii), 4(1)(v), 4(1)(vii) and
4(1)(xvi)" in Article 46(1)(vi) shall be deemed to be replaced with "where ... the trademark
registration becomes in violation of Article 64."
(5) The provisions of Articles 57 to 632 shall apply to a retrial and litigation pertaining to
defensive mark registration. In this case, the term "each of the items in Article 37" in Article
59(ii) shall be deemed to be replaced with "items (ii) to (vii) of Article 67," the term "a
trademark right pertaining to ... trademark registration" in Article 60 shall be deemed to be
replaced with "a right based on defensive mark registration in connection with ... defensive
mark registration," the term "an application for trademark registration" in the same article
shall be deemed to be replaced with "an application for the registration of a defensive mark or
an application for the registration of a defensive mark or an application for registration of
renewal of the duration of a right based on defensive mark registration," the term "the
establishment of a trademark right ... has been registered" in the same article shall be deemed
to be replaced with "the establishment of a right based on defensive mark registration or the
renewal of the duration of a right based on defensive mark registration ... has been registered"
and the term "the registered trademark or a trademark similar thereto ... in connection with
the designated goods or designated services or in connection with goods or services similar
thereto" in the same article shall be deemed to be replaced with "a trademark identical with
the registered defensive mark."
CHAPTER 72 SPECIAL PROVISIONS UNDER THE PROTOCOL
RELATING TO THE MADRID AGREEMENT
Section 1 Application for international registration
(Application for international registration)
Article 682 (1) A Japanese national or a foreign national domiciled or resident (or, in the case
of a juridical person, with a place of business) in Japan who desires to obtain an international
registration (hereinafter referred to as an "application for international registration") provided
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in Article 2(1) of the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the
International Registration of Marks adopted at Madrid on June 27, 1989 (hereinafter referred
to as the "Protocol") shall file with the Commissioner of the Patent Office an application
(hereinafter referred to as an "application for international registration") pursuant to Article
2(2) of the Protocol based on any of the following items; in this case, where requirements
provided by Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry are applicable, two
or more persons may jointly file the application for international registration:
(i) the application for trademark registration or application for defensive mark
registration of the applicant that is pending before the Patent Office (hereinafter
referred to as the "application for trademark registration, etc."); or
(ii) the trademark registration or defensive mark registration of the applicant
(hereinafter referred to as the "trademark registration, etc.").
(2) Any person who desires to file an application for international registration shall submit the
prescribed application and required documents in foreign language pursuant to Ordinance of
the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
(3) The application shall state the following matters:
(i) the name(s) of the Contracting Party to the Protocol in which the protection of
the trademark pertaining to the application for international registration is
sought; and
(ii) the goods or services in connection with which the protection of the trademark
pertaining to the application for international registration is sought and the class
of the goods and services provided by Cabinet Order in Article 6(2).
(4) Any person who desires to apply Article 3(3) of the Protocol in connection with a trademark
or a mark pertaining to the application for international registration shall state in the
application a statement indicating thereof and the color or the combination of colors claimed
and append to the application copies of the trademark or mark pertaining to the application
for trademark registration, etc., in color, or of the registered trademark or registered defensive
mark in color.
Article 683 (1) The Commissioner of the Patent Office shall send the application for
international registration and the required documents to the International Bureau provided in
Article 2(1) of the Protocol (hereinafter referred to as the "International Bureau").
(2) In the case of the preceding paragraph, where the matters stated in the application
correspond to the matters stated in the basic application for trademark registration, etc. or in
the basic trademark registration, etc., the Commissioner of the Patent Office shall state in the
application the fact thereof and the date of receipt of the application for international
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registration.
(3) In the case of paragraph (1), the Commissioner of the Patent Office shall send to the
applicant of the application for international registration a copy of the application for
international registration sent to the International Bureau.
(Subsequent designation)
Article 684 The registered holder of international registration may present to the Commissioner
of the Patent Office, pursuant to Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry,
a request for territorial extension provided in Article 3ter of the Protocol (hereinafter referred
to as "territorial extension") subsequent to the international registration (hereinafter referred
to as the "subsequent designation.")
(Application for renewal of the duration of international registration)
Article 685 The registered holder of international registration may file with the Commissioner
of the Patent Office, pursuant to Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry,
an application for renewal of the duration of international registration provided in Article 7(1)
of the Protocol (hereinafter referred to as "renewal of the duration of international
registration").
(Request for recording of change in the ownership of international registration)
Article 686 (1) The registered holder or transferee of international registration may, pursuant to
Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, present to the Commissioner of
the Patent Office a request for the recording of a change in the ownership of an international
registration, as provided in Article 9 of the Protocol (hereinafter referred to as "change in the
ownership of international registration").
(2) The request provided in the preceding paragraph may be made for each of the goods or
services listed in the international registration or for each of the Contracting Parties in which
the international registration has effect.
(Mutatis mutandis application of provisions concerning application for trademark
registration)
Article 687 Article 17(3) (limited to the part pertaining to item (iii)) and Article 18(1) of the
Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 77(2) of this Act, shall apply
mutatis mutandis to the application for international registration, subsequent designation, an
application for the renewal of the duration of international registration and a request for the
recording of a change in the ownership of international registration.
61
(Delegation to Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
Article 688 In addition to the provisions of Articles 682 to 687, details of matters relating to
the application for international registration, subsequent designation, an application for
renewal of the duration of international registration and a request for the recording of a
change in the ownership of international registration required for the implementation of the
Protocol and the regulations thereunder shall be provided by Ordinance of the Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry.
Section 2 Special Provisions pertaining to International Application for
Trademark Registration
(Application for trademark registration based on request for territorial extension)
Article 689 (1) Any request for territorial extension to designate Japan shall be deemed to be an
application for trademark registration filed on the date of international registration provided
in Article 3(4) of the Protocol (hereinafter referred to as the "date of international
registration"); provided, however, that in the case of subsequent designation, such request
shall be deemed to be an application for trademark registration filed on the date on which the
subsequent designation pertaining to the international registration pursuant to Article 3ter(2)
of the Protocol(hereinafter referred to as the "date of subsequent designation") is recorded in
the International Register of the International Bureau provided in Article 2(1) (hereinafter
referred to as the "International Register").
(2) Matters stated in the left column of the following table contained in the International
Register pertaining to the international registration designating Japan shall be deemed to be
the matters stated in the right column of the said table contained in the application submitted
pursuant to Article 5(1).
The name and the domicile or residence
of the registered holder of international
registration
The name and the domicile or residence
of the applicant for trademark
registration
The trademark subject to international
registration
The trademark for which registration is
sought
The goods or services listed in the The designated goods or designated
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international registration and the class
of the goods or services
services and the class of the goods or
services provided by Cabinet Order as
provided for in Article 6(2);
Among matters stated in the
International Register, those required
for the interpretation of the meanings of
statement of the trademark that is a
subject of an international registration
provided by Ordinance of the Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry
Detailed description of the trademark
(Special provisions concerning time of filing of international application for
trademark registration)
Article 6810 (1) Where a registered trademark (hereinafter in this article referred to as a
"registered trademark based on international registration") pertaining to the request for
territorial extension which is deemed to have been an application for trademark registration
pursuant to Article 689(1) (hereinafter in this chapter referred to as an "international
application for trademark registration") is identical with the registered trademark prior to the
trademark registration (except registered trademarks based on international registration,
hereinafter referred to in this article as a "registered trademark based on national
registration") and the designated goods or designated services pertaining to the registered
trademark based on international registration overlap with the designated goods or designated
services based on national registration, and further the holder of trademark right of the
registered trademark based on international registration is identical with the holder of
trademark right of the registered trademark based on national registration, the international
application for trademark registration shall be deemed to have been filed on the date of filing
of the application for trademark registration pertaining to the registered trademark based on
national registration to the extent of the scope which is overlapping.
(2) The provisions of paragraphs (3) and (4) of Article 6832 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the
international application for trademark registration under the preceding paragraph.
(Special provisions concerning time of filing of application)
Article 6811 For the purpose of application of Article 9(2) to an international application for
trademark registration, the term "at the time of filing of the application for trademark
registration" in the said paragraph shall be replaced with "within thirty days from the date of
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the international application for trademark registration."
(Special provisions concerning division of application)
Article 6812 Article 10 shall not apply to an international application for trademark
registration.
(Special provisions concerning conversion of application)
Article 6813 Articles 11 and 65 shall not apply to an international application for trademark
registration.
(Special provisions concerning matters to be contained in the trademark bulletin
pertaining to laying open of application)
Article 6814 For the purpose of application of Article 122(2) to the international application
for trademark registration, the term "the number and date of the application for trademark
registration" in item (ii) of the said paragraph shall be replaced with "the number and the date
of the international registration (in the case of the international application for trademark
registration pertaining to the subsequent designation, the date of subsequent designation)."
(Special provisions concerning proceedings for priority claim governed by the Paris
Convention, etc.)
Article 6815 (1) The provisions of paragraphs (1) to (4), and (7) to (9) of Article 43 of the
Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis upon reading the specified terms in accordance with
Article 13(1) of this Act shall not apply to an international application for trademark
registration.
(2) For the purpose of application of Article 43(1) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis
pursuant to Article 433(3) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis upon reading the
specified terms in accordance with Article 13(1) of this Act to the international application
for trademark registration, the portion "within the time limit provided by Ordinance of the
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry" in the said paragraph shall be replaced with
"within thirty days from the date of the international application for trademark registration."
(Special provisions concerning the right deriving from application for trademark
registration)
Article 6816 (1) For the purpose of application of Article 34(4) of the Patent Act as applied
mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 13(2) of this Act to the international application for
trademark registration, the portion ", except in the case of general succession including
64
inheritance, without the Commissioner of the Patent Office." in the said paragraph shall be
replaced with "without notification to the International Bureau."
(2) The provisions of paragraphs (5) to (7) of Article 34 of the Patent Act as applied mutatis
mutandis pursuant to Article 13(2) of this Act shall not apply to an international application
for trademark registration.
(Treatment of international application for trademark registration in the case of
change in the ownership of international registration)
Article 6817 Where all or some of the goods or services listed in the international registration
are divided and transferred as a result of a change in the ownership of international
registration, the international application for trademark registration shall be deemed to have
become applications for trademark registration with respect to each of the registered holders
after the change.
(Special provisions concerning new application for trademark as amended)
Article 6818 (1) Article 173 of the Design Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article
172(1) or 552(3) (including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article
602(2)) of this Act shall not apply to an international application for trademark registration.
(2) Article 174 of the Design Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 172(2) of
this Act shall not apply to an international application for trademark registration.
(Special provisions concerning registration of establishment of trademark right)
Article 6819 (1) For the purpose of application of Article 18(2) to the international application
for trademark registration, the term "where the registration fee under Article 40(1) or the
registration fee due and payable within thirty days from the date of service of a transcript of
an examiner's decision or a appeal/trial decision to the effect that the trademark is to be
registered under Article 412(1) is paid" in the said paragraph shall be replaced with "where
the communication is made by the International Bureau notifying that the payment of the
individual fee in the amount prescribed in Article 6830(1)(ii) has been recorded in the
International Register."
(2) For the purpose of application of Article 18(3) to the international application for trademark
registration, in item (ii) of the said paragraph the portion "the number and date of the
application for trademark registration" shall be replaced with "the number and the date of
international registration (in the case of the international application for trademark
registration pertaining to the subsequent designation, the date of subsequent designation)" and
in item (v) of the said paragraph the portion "the registration number and the date of
65
registration of establishment" shall be replaced with "the number of international registration
and the date of registration of the establishment."
(Effect of the lapse of international registration)
Article 6820 (1) Where all or a portion of the international registration on which the
international application for trademark registration is based has lapsed, the international
application for trademark registration shall be deemed to have been withdrawn in respect of
all or the portion of the designated goods or designated services that have lapsed.
(2) Where all or a portion of the international registration on which the international
registration is based has lapsed, the trademark right based on such international registration
the establishment of which has been registered under Article 18(2) as applied upon reading
the specified terms in accordance with Article 6819(1) (hereinafter referred to as the
"trademark right based on international registration") shall be deemed to have lapsed in
respect of all or the portion of the designated goods or designated services that have lapsed.
(3) The preceding two paragraphs shall take effect as of the date the international registration
lapses in the International Register.
(Duration of trademark right based on international registration)
Article 6821 (1) The duration of a trademark right based on international registration shall
expire after ten years from the date of the international registration (where the duration of the
international registration has been renewed prior to the registration of the establishment of the
trademark right, the date of most recent renewal).
(2) The duration of a trademark right based on international registration may be renewed based
on the renewal of the duration of the international registration.
(3) Where the duration of international registration is renewed, the duration of the trademark
right based on international registration shall be renewed at the time of expiration of the
duration.
(4) Where the duration of international registration is not renewed, the trademark right based on
international registration shall be deemed to have extinguished retroactively at the time of
expiration of the duration.
(Special provisions concerning registration of renewal of duration)
Article 6822 (1) Articles 19 to 22, 23(1) and 23(2) shall not apply to a trademark right based on
international registration.
(2) For the purpose of application of Article 23(3) relating to a trademark right based on
international registration, the portion "registration as set forth under the preceding two
66
paragraphs" in the said paragraph shall be replaced with "renewal of the duration of
international registration" and the portion "the registration number and the date of registration
of renewal" in item (ii) of the said paragraph shall be replaced with "the number of
international registration and the date of renewal of the duration of international registration."
(Special provisions concerning division of trademark right)
Article 6823 Article 24 shall not apply to a trademark right based on international registration.
(Special provisions pertaining to transfer of collective trademark right)
Article 6824 (1) A collective trademark right based on international registration may not be
transferred, unless the document provided in Article 7(3) is submitted.
(2) Article 243 shall not apply to a trademark right based on international registration.
(Special provisions concerning waiver of trademark right)
Article 6825 (1) The holder of trademark right based on international registration may abandon
the trademark right.
(2) Article 97(1) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 35 of this Act
shall not apply to a trademark right based on international registration.
(Special provisions concerning effects of registration of trademark right)
Article 6826 (1) A transfer, modification due to trust, extinguishment by waiver or restriction
on disposition of a trademark right based on international registration shall have no effect
unless registered.
(2) Articles 98(1)(i) and 98(2) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis upon reading the
specified terms in accordance with Article 35 of this Act shall not apply to a trademark right
based on international registration.
(Special provisions concerning registration in the Trademark Registry)
Article 6827 (1) For the purpose of application of Article 71(1)(i) to a trademark right based on
international registration, the term "the establishment, renewal of the duration, division,
transfer, modification, extinguishment, restoration or restriction on disposition of a trademark
right" in the said item shall be replaced with "the establishment, modification due to trust or
restriction on disposition of a trademark right."
(2) The renewal of the duration, the transfer, the modification (excluding a modification due to
trust) or the extinction of a trademark right based on international registration shall have
effect in accordance with that registration in the International Register.
67
(Special provisions concerning amendment of proceedings)
Article 6828 (1) Any amendment to the designated goods or designated services stated in the
international application for trademark registration may be made only within the time limit
designated in Article 152 (including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to
Article 552(1) (including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article
602(2))) or Article 153 (including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to
Article 552(1) (including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article
602(2))).
(2) Article 6840 shall not apply to an international application for trademark registration,
except for matters deemed to be the detailed description of a trademark under Article 689(2).
(Extra provisions relating to special provisions on trademark right covering two or
more designated goods or designated services)
Article 6829 For the purpose of the application of Article 69 relating to a trademark right based
on international registration, the portion "20(4) or 33(1) of this Act, Article 97(1) or 98(1)(i)
of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 35 of this Act" in Article 69
shall be replaced with "33(1), 6825(1) or 6826(1)" and the term "Article 71(1)(i)" in Article
69 shall be replaced with "71(1)(i) as applied mutatis mutandis upon reading the specified
terms in accordance with Article 6827(1), 6827(2)."
(Individual fee for trademark right based on international registration)
Article 6830 (1) Any person who desires to obtain a registration of establishment of a
trademark right based on international registration shall pay to the International Bureau, as
the individual fee provided in Article 8(7)(a) of the Protocol (hereinafter referred to as the
"individual fee") for each registration in the following amounts:
(i) the amount equivalent to 2,700 yen plus 8,600 yen for each class of the goods and
services; and
(ii) the amount equivalent to 28,200 yen multiplied by the number of classes of the
goods and services.
(2) The individual fee in the amount prescribed in item (i) of the preceding paragraph shall be
paid prior to the international registration and the individual fee in the amount prescribed in
item (ii) thereof shall be paid within the time limit provided by Ordinance of the Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry.
(3) Where an examiner's decision or appeal/trial decision is rendered to the effect that a
trademark pertaining to an international application for trademark registration is to be
68
registered, the Commissioner of the Patent Office shall notify the International Bureau of the
time limit for the payment of the individual fee pertaining to the application, in the amount
prescribed in item (ii) of paragraph (1).
(4) Where the individual fee in the amount prescribed in items (ii) of paragraph (1) is not paid,
and as a result the international registration on which the international application for
trademark registration is based is rescinded, the said application shall be deemed to have been
withdrawn.
(5) A person requesting the renewal of the duration of a trademark right based on international
registration shall pay as the individual fee to the International Bureau for each registration the
amount equivalent to 38,800 yen multiplied by the number of classes.
(6) Articles 40 to 43 and 76(2) (limited to the portion listed under item (i) of the appended table)
shall not apply to an application for international trademark registration and a trademark right
based on the international registration.
(Delegation to Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
Article 6831 In addition to the provisions of Articles 689 to 6830, details of matters required
for the implementation of the Protocol and the regulations thereunder shall be provided by
Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
SECTION 3 SPECIAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR
TRADEMARK REGISTRATION, ETC.
(Special provisions concerning application for trademark registration after
rescission of international registration)
Article 6832 (1) Where an international registration relating to a trademark that was the subject
of an international registration designating Japan is rescinded pursuant to Article 6(4) of the
Protocol in respect of all or some of the goods or services listed in the international
registration, the person who was the registered holder of the international registration may
file an application for trademark registration in relation to all or some of the said goods or
services.
(2) Where an application for trademark registration under the preceding paragraph falls under
all of the following items, the application shall be deemed to have been filed on the date of
international registration (where the international registration under the said paragraph is
related to the subsequent designation, the date of the subsequent designation pertaining to the
said international registration) of the international registration under the said paragraph.
(i) the application for trademark registration under the preceding paragraph is
69
filed within three months from the date on which the international registration
under the said paragraph was rescinded;
(ii) the trademark for which the registration is sought is identical with the
trademark that was the subject of the international registration under the
preceding paragraph; and
(iii) the designated goods or designated services in connection with the application
for trademark registration under the preceding paragraph are within the scope of
the goods or services listed in the international registration under the preceding
paragraph.
(3) Where an international application for trademark registration pertaining to an international
registration under paragraph (1) enjoyed a right of priority pursuant to Article 4 of the Paris
Convention, the application for trademark registration under the said paragraph shall also
enjoy the same right of priority.
(4) The preceding paragraph shall also apply to the case where an international application for
trademark registration pertaining to an international registration under paragraph (1) enjoyed
a right of priority pursuant to Article 433(2) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis
upon reading the specified terms in accordance with Article 93 or 13(1) of this Act.
(5) For the purpose of the application of Article 10(1) to an application for trademark
registration under paragraph (1), the portion of the said paragraph "part of an application"
shall be replaced with "part of an application(limited to the goods or services that fall under
the scope of those listed in the international registration under Article 6832(1))."
(6) Where, due to reasons beyond the control of the person filing an application for trademark
registration under paragraph (1), the person is unable to file the application within the time
limit as provided in paragraph (2)(i), the said person may, notwithstanding the said item, file
the application within 14 days (two months for resident abroad) from the date on which the
reasons for not filing ceased to be applicable, but not later than six months after the expiration
of the said time limit.
(7) The application for trademark registration filed under the preceding paragraph shall be
deemed to have been filed at the time of expiration of the time limit under paragraph (2)(i).
(Special provisions concerning application for trademark registration after
denunciation of Protocol)
Article 6833 (1) Where, pursuant to Article 15(5)(b) of the Protocol, the registered holder of
the international registration designating Japan becomes no longer entitled as a person
eligible to file the international application pursuant to Article 2(1) of the Protocol, the person
who was the registered holder of the said international registration may file an application for
70
trademark registration in connection with the goods or services listed in the said international
registration.
(2) The provisions of paragraphs (2) to (7) of Article 6832 shall apply mutatis mutandis to an
application for trademark registration under the preceding paragraph. In this case, the portion
"within three months from the date on which the international registration under the said
paragraph was rescinded" in paragraph(2)(i) of the said Article shall be deemed to be
replaced with "within two years from the date on which the denunciation under Article 15(3)
of the Protocol took effect."
(Special provisions concerning reasons for refusal)
Article 6834 (1) For the purpose of the application of Article 15 to an application for trademark
registration pursuant to Article 6832(1) or 6833(1), the portion "falls under any of the
following items" in Article 15 shall be replaced with "falls under any of the following items
or where an application for trademark registration under Article 6832(1) or 6833(1) does
not comply with the requirements provided in Article 6832(1), 6833(1) or each item of
6832(2) (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis upon reading the specified terms in
accordance with Article 6833(2))."
(2) The provision of Article 15 (limited to the part pertaining to item (i) and (ii)) shall not apply
to an application for trademark registration under Article 6832(1) or 6833(1) pertaining to a
trademark right that was related to the international registration (referred to in Article 6837
and 6839 as "refiling of trademark right pertaining to former international registration").
(Special provisions concerning registration of establishment of trademark right)
Article 6835 Notwithstanding Article 18(2), where, in connection with an application for
trademark registration under Article 6832(1) or 6833(1), the examiner's decision or the
appeal/trial decision to the effect that the trademark is to be registered has been rendered
within ten years from the date of international registration of the international registration
pertaining to the said application (where the duration of the international registration has been
renewed, the date of most renewal) and the individual fee in the amount prescribed in Article
6830(1)(ii) has been paid to the International Bureau prior to the date on which the
international registration pertaining to the said application is rescinded pursuant to Article
6(4) of the Protocol or to the date on which the denunciation under Article 15(3) of the
Protocol takes effect, the establishment of the trademark right shall be registered.
(Special provisions concerning duration)
Article 6836 (1) The duration of a trademark right provided in Article 6835 shall expire after
71
ten years from the date of the international registration of the international registration
pertaining to the said application (where the duration of the international registration has been
renewed, the date of most recent renewal).
(2) Article 19(1) shall not apply to the duration of a trademark right provided in the preceding
paragraph.
(Special provisions concerning opposition to registration)
Article 6837 For the purpose of application of Article 432 to a trademark registration
pertaining to the refiling of a trademark right pertaining to a former international registration,
the term "trademark registration" in the said article shall be replaced with "trademark
registration (in the case of a trademark registration pertaining to the refiling of a trademark
right pertaining to a former international registration, except any trademark registration for
which the term provided in this Article has lapsed without any opposition to registration of
the former trademark registration pertaining to the former international registration)."
(Special provisions concerning invalidation trial of trademark registration)
Article 6838 For the purpose of the trial prescribed in Article 46(1) for the trademark
registration pertaining to an application for trademark registration under Article 6832(1) or
6833(1), the term "falls under any of the following items" in the said paragraph shall be
replaced with "falls under any of the following items or has been made in violation of the
provision of Article 6832(1), 6833(1) or each item of Article 6832(2) (including cases
where applied mutatis mutandis upon reading the specified terms in accordance with Article
6833(2))."
Article 6839 For the purpose of the application of Article 47 to a trademark registration
pertaining to the refiling of a trademark right pertaining to a former international registration,
the portion "may not be filed" in the said article shall be replaced with "may not be filed. The
same shall also apply, in relation to the trademark registration pertaining to the refiling of the
trademark right pertaining to former international registration, even prior to a lapse of five
years from the date of registration of the establishment of the trademark right, when a request
for trial under Article 46(1) can be no longer filed pursuant to this article pertaining to the
trademark registration pertaining to the former international registration."
CHAPTER 8 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
(Amendment of proceedings)
72
Article 6840 (1) The person undertaking a procedure before the Patent Office with regard to an
application for trademark registration, an application for defensive mark registration, any
requests or any other procedures relating to trademark registration or defensive mark
registration, may make amendments relating thereto only when the case is pending in
examination, examination on opposition to registration, appeal/trial or retrial.
(2) Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, a person who has applied for trademark
registration may, at the time of payment of the registration fee under Article 40(1) or 412(1),
make amendments to reduce the number of classes pertaining to the application for trademark
registration.
(Special provisions on trademark right covering two or more designated goods or
designated services)
Article 69 For the purpose of the application of Article 132(4) (including where it is applied
mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 68(1)), 20(4) and 33(1) of this Act, Article 97(1) or
98(1)(i) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 35 of this Act,
Article 433(3), 46(3), 462 or 54 of this Act, Article 132(1) of the Patent Act as respectively
applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 56(1) of this Act or Article 174(3) of the Patent
Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 61 of this Act, Article 59, 60, 71(1)(i) or
75(2)(iv) of this Act, to the trademark registration or trademark right covering two or more
designated goods or designated services, the trademark shall be deemed to have been
registered or the trademark right shall be deemed to exist, for each of the designated goods or
designated services.
(Special provisions on trademarks, etc., similar to registered trademarks)
Article 70 (1) The term "registered trademark" as used in Article 25, 29, 30(2), 31(2), 312(1),
34(1), 38(3), 50, 522(1), 59(i), 64, 73 or 74 shall include trademarks similar to the registered
trademark that would be regarded as being identical with the registered trademark if they
were in the same color(s) as the registered trademark.
(2) The term "registered defensive mark" as used in Article 4(1)(xii) or 67 shall include marks
similar to the registered defensive mark that would be regarded as being identical with the
registered defensive mark if they were in the same color(s) as the registered defensive
trademark.
(3) The term "trademark similar to the registered trademark" as used in Article 37(i) or 51(1)
shall not include any trademark similar to the registered trademark that would be regarded as
being identical with the registered trademark if they were in the same color(s) as the
registered trademark.
73
(4) The preceding three paragraphs shall not apply to a trademark that consists solely of colors.
(Registration in Trademark Registry)
Article 71 (1) The following matters shall be registered in the Trademark Registry maintained in
the Patent Office:
(i) the establishment, renewal of the duration, division, transfer, modification,
extinguishment, restoration or restriction on disposition of a trademark right;
(ii) the establishment, renewal of the duration, transfer or extinguishment of right
based on defensive mark registration;
(iii) the establishment, maintenance, transfer, modification, extinguishment or
restriction on disposition of exclusive right to use or nonexclusive right to use;
and
(iv) the establishment, transfer, modification, extinguishment or restriction on
disposition of a right of pledge on a trademark right, exclusive right to use or
nonexclusive right to use.
(2) The Trademark Registry may be prepared, in whole or in part, in the form of magnetic tapes
(including other storage media using a similar method that may record or reliably store
certain matters; the same shall apply hereinafter).
(3) In addition to those provided in this act, matters relating to the registration shall be provided
by Cabinet Order.
(Issuance of certificate of trademark registration, etc.)
Article 712 (1) Upon registration of the establishment of a trademark right or upon registration
of the establishment of rights based on defensive mark registration, the Commissioner of the
Patent Office shall issue a certificate of trademark registration or defensive mark registration
to the holder of trademark right.
(2) The reissuance of a certificate of trademark registration or defensive mark registration shall
be provided by Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
(Request for certificate, etc.)
Article 72 (1) Any person may file a request with regard to trademark registration or defensive
mark registration to the Commissioner of the Patent Office to issue a certificate, a transcript
of documents or an extract of documents, to allow the inspection or copying of documents or
materials under Article 5(4), or to issue documents stored on the magnetic tapes that
constitute a part of the Trademark Registry; provided, however, that if the Commissioner of
the Patent Office considers it necessary to keep such documents confidential, this provision
74
shall not apply in the case of the following documents:
(i) documents pertaining to a trial under Article 46(1) (including cases where it is applied
mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 68(4)), 50(1), 51(1), 522(1), 53(1) or 532 (including
cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 68(4)) or a retrial of the final
and binding trial decision rendered in the said trial, with respect to which the party in the case
or an intervener has given notice that a trade secret owned by the said party in the case or
intervener has been described (trade secret as provided in Section 2(6) of the Unfair
Competition Prevention Act (Act No. 47 of 1993));
(ii) documents which are likely to cause damage to an individual's reputation or peaceful
existence; and
(iii) documents which are likely to cause damage to public policy.
(2) Where the Commissioner of the Patent Office approves of the request under the main clause
of the preceding paragraph with regard to the documents as provided in item (i) or (ii) of the
said paragraph, the Commissioner of the Patent Office shall notify the person who submitted
the said documents thereof and reasons therefor. (3) Provisions of the Act Concerning Access
to Information Held by Administrative Organs (Act No. 42 of 1999) shall not apply to the
documents concerning trademark registration or defensive mark registration and the part of
the Trademark Registry stored on magnetic tapes.
(4) Provisions in Chapter 4 of the Act Concerning Protection of Personal Information Possessed
by Administrative Organs (Act No. 58 of 2003) shall not apply to the possessed Personal
Information (referring to the possessed Personal Information as provided in Article 2(3) of
the said Act) recorded in the documents concerning trademark registration or defensive mark
registration and the part of the Trademark Registry stored on magnetic tapes.
(Indication of trademark registration)
Article 73 Where the holder of trademark right, exclusive right to use or nonexclusive right to
use affixes the registered trademark to the designated goods, packages of the designated
goods or articles to be used for the provision of the designated services, or affixes, in the
provision of the designated services, the registered trademark to the goods pertaining to the
provision of the designated services that belong to the person receiving the designated
services pursuant to the provisions of Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and
Industry, he/she shall make efforts to affix to the trademark an indication (hereinafter referred
to as an "indication of trademark registration") stating that the trademark is a registered
trademark.
(Prohibition of false indication)
75
Article 74 It shall be prohibited for a person to do the following acts:
(i) in using a trademark that is not a registered trademark, to affix an indication of
trademark registration or an indication confusing therewith to the trademark;
(ii) in using a registered trademark for goods or services that are not the designated
goods or designated services, to affix an indication of trademark registration or an
indication confusing therewith to the trademark;
(iii) the possession, for the purpose of assignment or delivery, of articles affixed on
goods or on their packages, a trademark other than a registered trademark,
articles affixed on goods other than the designated goods, or on their packages, a
registered trademark in connection with goods, or articles affixed on goods or on
their packages, a registered trademark in connection with services, where the
indication of trademark registration or an indication confusing therewith is
affixed to the said trademark;
(iv) the possession or importation of articles affixed with a trademark other than a
registered trademark, that are used in the course of the provision of services by a
person who receives the said services, articles affixed with a registered trademark
in connection with services, that are used in the course of the provision of services
other than the designated services by a person who receives the said services, or
articles affixed with a registered trademark in connection with goods, that are
used in the course of the provision of services by a person who receives the said
services, where the indication of trademark registration or an indication
confusing therewith is affixed to the said trademark (hereinafter referred to in
the following item as "articles with a false indication of trademark registration
pertaining to services"), for the purpose of the provision of the said services
through use of the said articles; and
(v) the assignment, delivery, or possession or importation for the purpose of
assignment or delivery of articles with a false indication of trademark
registration pertaining to services, for the purpose of causing the provision of the
said services through use of the said articles;
(Trademark Gazette)
Article 75 (1) The Patent Office shall publish the trademark gazette
(2) In addition to those matters provided in this Act, the trademark gazette shall contain the
following matters:
(i) examiner's decisions to the effect that an application is to be refused, or the
waiver, withdrawal or dismissal of applications for trademark registration or
76
applications for defensive mark registration after laying open of application;
(ii) succession of right deriving from an application for trademark registration after
laying open of application;
(iii) amendments made to the designated goods or designated services stated in an
application, to the trademark for which the registration is sought, or to the mark
for which the defensive mark registration is sought after laying open of
application;
(iv) extinguishments of trademark rights (except due to the expiration of the
duration and the provision of Article 412(6) (including cases where it is applied
mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 412(8));
(v) filing of an opposition to registration or request appeal/trial or a retrial, or
withdrawal thereof;
(vi) final and binding decisions on the opposition to registration, final and binding
appeal/trial decisions or the final and binding decision or appeal/trial decision on
retrial; and
(vii) final and binding judgments in actions under Article 63(1).
(Fees)
Article 76 (1) Fees shall be paid by the following persons in an amount to be provided by
Cabinet Order in view of the actual costs:
(i) persons notifying of succession under Article 34(4) of the Patent Act as applied
mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 13(2) of this Act;
(ii) persons filing a request for an extension of the term under Article 174 of the
Design Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 172(2) (including
cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 68(2)) of this Act,
Article 41(2), Article 412(2), 434(3) (including cases where it is applied mutatis
mutandis under Article 68(4)) of this Act, Article 658(3) or Article 4 of the Patent
Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to 77(1) of this Act or Article 5(1), or a
change of the date under Article 5(2) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis
mutandis pursuant to Article 77(1) of this Act.
(iii) persons filing an application for international registration to the Commissioner
of the Patent Office pursuant to Article 682;
(iv) persons presenting to the Commissioner of the Patent Office a request for
subsequent designation pursuant to Article 684;
(v) persons filing an application for renewal of the duration of international
registration to the Commissioner of the Patent Office pursuant to Article 685;
77
(vi) persons filing a request to the Commissioner of the Patent Office for the
recording of a change in the ownership of international registration pursuant to
Article 686;
(vii) persons filing a request for the reissuance of a certificate of trademark
registration or defensive mark registration;
(viii) persons filing a request for the issuance of a certificate pursuant to Article
72(1);
(ix) persons filing a request for the issuance of a transcript of documents or an
extract of documents pursuant to Article 72(1);
(x) persons filing a request to allow the inspection or copying of documents or
materials under Article 5(4) pursuant to Article 72(1); and
(xi) persons filing a request for the issuance of documents whose contents are stored
on magnetic tapes that constitute part of the Trademark Registry pursuant to
Article 72(1).
(2) The persons listed in the center column of the attached table shall pay fees in the amount as
provided by Cabinet Order within the range of the amounts specified in the corresponding
righthand column of the table.
(3) The preceding two paragraphs shall not apply where the person to pay the fee in accordance
with these paragraphs is the State.
(4) Where the State has coownership of a trademark right, a right deriving from an application
for trademark registration or a right based on an application for defensive mark registration
with a person other than the State, and the portion of their respective shares of the said right
has been agreed, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) or (2), the fees payable
thereunder (limited to those provided by Cabinet Order) shall be determined as the sum of the
provided fees multiplied by the ratios of the share of each person other than the State, and, the
person(s) other than the State shall pay such sum.
(5) Where the amount of the fees calculated under the preceding paragraph has a fractional
figure of less than ten yen, the said portion shall be discarded.
(6) The payment of the fees under paragraph (1) or (2) shall be made by patent revenue stamps
as provided by Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; provided,
however, that where so provided by Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and
Industry, a cash payment thereof shall be accepted.
(7) Fees paid in excess or in error shall be refunded upon the request of the person who made
payment thereof.
(8) No request for a refund of the fees under the preceding paragraph may be filed after one year
from the date on which the payment thereof has been made.
78
(9) Where, due to reasons beyond the control of the person, the person filing a
request for refund a registration fee is unable to file the request within the time
limit as provided in paragraph (7), the said person may, notwithstanding the said
paragraph, file the request within 14 days (two months for resident abroad) from
the date on which the reasons for not filing ceased to be applicable, but not later
than six months after the expiration of the said time limit.
(Mutatis mutandis application of Patent Act)
Article 77 (1) The provisions of Articles 3 to 5 (time periods and dates) of the Patent Act shall
apply mutatis mutandis to time periods and dates provided in this Act. In this case, the term
"Article 121(1)" of Article 4 of the Patent Act shall be deemed to be replaced with "Article
44(1) or 45(1) of the Trademark Act."
(2) Articles 6 to 9, 11 to 16, 17(3) and 17(4), 18 to 24 and 194 (procedures) of the Patent Act
shall apply mutatis mutandis to an application for trademark registration, an application for
defensive mark registration, any petitions or any other procedures pertaining to trademark
registration or defensive mark registration. In this case, the portion "appeal against an
examiner's decision of refusal" in Article 9 of the Patent Act shall be deemed to be replaced
with "appeal under Article 44(1) or 45(1) of the Trademark Act," the portion "appeal against
an examiner's decision of refusal" in Article 14 of the Patent Act shall be deemed to be
replaced with "appeal under Article 44(1) or 45(1) of the Trademark Act," the portion "(ii)
where the procedures do not comply with the formal requirements provided by this Act or an
order thereunder" in Article 17(3) of the Patent Act shall be deemed to be replaced with "(ii)
where the procedures do not comply with the formal requirements provided by this Act or an
order thereunder; (ii)2 where, pertaining to the procedures, the registration fee under Article
40(2) of the Trademark Act or the registration fee (including the registration surcharge due
and payable pursuant to Article 43(1) or 43(2) of the Trademark Act) payable at the time of
application for registration of renewal pursuant to Article 412(7) of the Trademark Act is not
paid," the portion "any of the items in Article 382(1)" in Article 182(1) of the Patent Act
shall be deemed to be replaced with "any of the items in Article 52(1) of the Trademark Act
(including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 68(1) of the
Trademark Act))."
(3) The provision of Article 25 (Enjoyment of rights by foreign nationals) of the Patent Act
shall apply mutatis mutandis to a trademark right and other rights relating to the trademark
registration.
(4) Article 26 (Effect of treaties) of the Patent Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the trademark
registration and defensive mark registration.
79
(5) The provisions of Articles 189 to 192 (Service) of the Patent Act shall apply mutatis
mutandis to service provided in this Act.
(6) Article 1953 of the Patent Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to dispositions under this Act or
under an order based on this Act.
(7) Article 1954 (Restriction on appeals under Administrative Appeal Act) of the Patent Act
shall apply mutatis mutandis to an examiner's decision, a ruling to dismiss an amendment, a
rescission decision, appeal/trial decision, a ruling to dismiss a written opposition, a ruling to
dismiss a written request for appeal/trial or retrial under this Act and to a disposition against
which no appeal lies in accordance with this act.
(Transitional measures)
Article 772 Where an order is established, revised or abolished pursuant to this Act, transitional
measures (including transitional measures relating to penal provisions) to the extent deemed
reasonably necessary for the establishment, revision or abolishment may be provided by the
said order.
CHAPTER 9 PENAL PROVISIONS
(Crime of infringement)
Article 78 An infringer of a trademark right or an exclusive right to use (excluding one who has
committed an act that shall be deemed to constitute infringement of a trademark right or an
exclusive right to use under Article 37 or Article 67) shall be punished by imprisonment with
work for a term not exceeding ten years or a fine not exceeding 10,000,000 yen or
combination thereof.
Article 782 Any person who has committed an act that shall be deemed to constitute
infringement of a trademark right or an exclusive right to use under Article 37 or Article 67
shall be punished by imprisonment with work for a term not exceeding five years or a fine not
exceeding 5,000,000 yen or combination thereof.
(Crime of fraud)
Article 79 Any person who has obtained a trademark registration, defensive mark registration,
registration of renewal of the duration of trademark right or right based on defensive mark
registration, decision on opposition to registration or appeal/trial decision by means of a
fraudulent act shall be punished by imprisonment with work for a term not exceeding three
years or a fine not exceeding 3,000,000 yen.
80
(Crime of false indication)
Article 80 Any person who fails to comply with Article 74 shall be punished by imprisonment
with work for a term not exceeding three years or a fine not exceeding 3,000,000yen.
(Crime of perjury, etc.)
Article 81 (1) A witness, an expert witness or an interpreter who has taken an oath under this
Act and made a false statement or given a false expert opinion or a false interpretation before
the Patent Office or a court commissioned thereby, shall be punished by imprisonment with
work for a term of between three months and ten years.
(2) Where a person who has committed the offense in the preceding paragraph has made a
voluntary confession before a transcript of the judgment on the case has been served, or a
decision on an opposition to registration or appeal/trial decision has become final and binding,
the punishment may be reduced or waived
(Crime of breach of confidentiality order)
Article 812 (1) Any person who fails to comply with an order pursuant to Article 1054(1)
(including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 132(5)) of the
Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 39 of this Act shall be punished by
imprisonment with work for a term not exceeding five years or a fine not exceeding
5,000,000yen or combination thereof.
(2) The prosecution of the crime under the preceding paragraph may not be instituted unless a
complaint is filed.
(3) The crime under paragraph (1) shall apply to a person who commits the crime under the said
paragraph while outside Japan.
(Dual liability)
Article 82 (1) Where a representative of a juridical person or an agent, employee or other staff
member of a juridical person or an individual has committed, in the course of performing
social activities for the juridical person or individual, any act in violation of the provisions
prescribed in the following items, in addition to the offender, the juridical person shall be
punished by fine as provided in the corresponding items and the individual shall be punished
by fine as provided in each article prescribed in the following items:
(i) Article 78, Article 782 or 812(1), a fine not exceeding 300 million yen; and
(ii) Article 79 or 80, a fine not exceeding 100 million yen.
(2) In the case of the preceding paragraph, a complaint under Article 812(2) against the
81
offender shall also have effect on the juridical person or individual and a complaint against
the juridical person or individual shall also have effect on the offender.
(3) Where a fine is imposed on a judicial person or individual pursuant to paragraph (1) with
regard to a violation of Article 78, 782 or 812(1), the period of prescription shall be
governed by the same rules as for crimes in the provisions thereof.
(Nonpenal fine)
Article 83 Where a person who has taken an oath under Article 207(1) of the Code of Civil
Procedure as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 151 of the Patent Act as applied
mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 71(3) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis
pursuant to Article 28(3) (including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to
Article 68(3) of this Act) of this Act, Article 438 (including cases where it is applied mutatis
mutandis pursuant to Article 602(1) and 68(4) of this Act) or Article 56(1) (including cases
where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 68(4) of this Act), Article 174(3) of
the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 61 (including cases where it is
applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 68(5) of this Act), Article 58(2) of the Design
Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 62(1) (including cases where it is applied
mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 68(5) of this Act), or Article 58(3) of the Design Act as
applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 62(2) (including cases where it is applied
mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 68(5) of this Act) has made a false statement before the
Patent Office or a court commissioned thereby, the said person shall be liable to a nonpenal
fine not exceeding 100,000 yen.
Article 84 A person who has been summoned by the Patent Office or a court commissioned
thereby in accordance with this Act and fails to appear or refuses to take an oath, make a
statement, testify, give an expert opinion or interpret without a just cause shall be liable to a
nonpenal fine not exceeding 100,000yen.
Article 85 A person who has been ordered by the Patent Office or a court commissioned thereby
to submit or present documents or other materials for the purpose of examination or
preservation of evidence in accordance with this Act, and fails to comply with the order
without a just cause shall be liable to a nonpenal fine not exceeding 100,000yen.
Supplementary provisions (Extract)
within the period specified by Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and
Industry
82
Attached Table (In relation to Article 76)
Person responsible for
payment Amount
1
Person filing an
application for trademark
registration
6,000 yen per case plus
15,000 yen for each class
2
Person filing an
application for defensive
mark registration or for
registration of renewal of
the duration of a right
based on defensive mark
registration
12,000 yen per case plus
30,000 yen for each class
3
Person responsible for the
procedures under Article
43(7), Article 41(3), Article
412(3), Article 658(4) of
the Patent Act as applied
mutatis mutandis under
Article 9(3) and Article
13(1), or Article 5(3) of the
Patent Act as applied
mutatis mutandis under
Article 77(1)
4,200 yen per case
4
Person requesting the
division of a trademark
right
30,000 yen per case
5 Person requesting an 40,000 yen per case
83
advisory opinion pursuant
to Article 28(1) (including
cases where it is applied
mutatis mutandis
pursuant to Article 68(3))
6 Person filing an opposition
to registration
3,000 yen per case plus
8,000 yen for each class
7
Person requesting to
intervene in proceedings
of an opposition to
registration
11,000 yen per case
8 Person filing a request for
appeal/trial or retrial
15,000 yen per case plus
40,000 yen for each class
9
Person requesting to
intervene in a trial or
retrial
55,000 yen per case
84