The Trademark Examination Manual

March 2013

Japan Patent Office

The Trademark Examination Manual is based on the understanding that in order to ensure the smooth administration of the trademark system, it is necessary for the examination to follow a certain standard in a uniform, fair and appropriate manner. Based on this perception, the trademark manual has been organized into categories of laws and regulations, handling and material/evidence that are required for the daily administration of examinations. It supplements the Trademark Examination Standards, and as such, both the Trademark Examination Standards and the Trademark Examination Manual prescribe the administration and operation/handling of trademark examinations.

It is from this perspective that the Trademark Examination Manual was prepared by the Trademark Examination Standards Office in March 1981 with the cooperation of related organizations, after studies on the practical operations of the examination, and documents were created by the Trademark Examination Standards Committee established inside the Trademark Division. Since then, in line with the amendments that were made to the Commercial Code, the Trademark Examination Manual has been revised whenever necessary.

Until now, the Trademark Examination Manual was only available to JPO examiners for use as examination material to be used in executing their practical duties. In the view of the need to promote a common understanding both inside and outside the JPO regarding the administration of practical trademark examinations in order to promote the smooth operation of the trademark system, and in response to demands from third parties, the JPO has decided to publicly disclose the Trademark Examination Manual.

The administration of trademark examinations must accommodate the changes in the way goods and services are traded in a society, and must be conducted in a fair and appropriate manner. We will continue to study the current Trademark Examination Manual, while reviewing and adding contents as necessary. We hope to solicit the frank opinions of interested parties by disclosing the Trademark Examination Manual so that we can

Followings are the English texts of The Trademark Examination Manual in Japan. When any ambiguity of interpretation is found in this provisional translation, the Japanese text shall prevail.

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INDEX

Notes <PDF 43KB>

[13. Representative]

13.71 Drafting in a Case Where an International Trademark Application Does Not Have a Domestic Representative <PDF 17KB>

[15. Priority Right]

15.01 Handling of an Application for which a Priority Right is not Accepted <PDF 16KB>

15.02 Regarding the Decision of “Identicalness” of Three-Dimensional Trademarks in which an Application for Trademark Registration Accompanies a Priority Claim <PDF 17KB>

15.03 Regarding the Decision of “Identicalness of Trademarks” of Standard Characters in which an Application for Trademark Registration Accompanies a Priority Claim <PDF 18KB>

[16. special provisions concerning time of filing of an application]

16.01 Treatment relating to claim of special provisions concerning time of filing of an application <PDF 22KB>

16.02 Treatment where special provisions concerning time of filing of an application is not admitted <PDF 36KB>

16.03 Treatment relating to Exhibition designated by the Commissioner of the Patent Office pursuant to provisions of Article 9(1) of the Trademark Act before amended <PDF 18KB>

16.04 Explanation of the standards of an exhibition specified by the Commissioner of the Patent Office <PDF 38KB>

[17. New Application Pertaining to Division, Conversion and Declining of Amendment]

17.01 Regarding Notification in a Case in which a Divisional Application is Rejected <PDF 17KB>

17.02 Regarding Notice of Rejection of a New Application Related to a Conversion <PDF 17KB>

17.03 Handling of the Original Application when an Application has been Converted <PDF 16KB>

[19. Procedures Concerning Standard Characters, etc.]

19.01 Regarding the Designation of the Standard Characters as Provided in Article 5(3) of the Trademark Act <PDF 17KB>

19.71 Handling of a Case in which the Applicant Declares that the Trademark Claimed in an International Trademark Application is in “Standard Characters” <PDF 17KB>

[20. Examination]

20.01 Handling Concerning the Conducting of Examination through Interviews <PDF 15KB>

20.02 Accelerated Examination System <PDF 35KB>

[25. Trademark Subject to Trademark Registration]

25.01 Handling of a Case when an Applicant demands that the Provision of the Proviso to Article 5(4) of the Trademark Act be Applied to the Portions that do not describe the Trademark <PDF 52KB>

25.71 Handling of a Case in which a “Transliteration of the Mark,” “Translation of the Mark” or “Description of the Mark” was Indicated for an International Trademark Application <PDF 19KB>

25.72 Handling of a Trademark to which a Color or Colors are Applied in an International Trademark Application <PDF 16KB>

[26. Defensive Mark]

26.01 Regarding the Examination of an Application for the Registration of a Defensive Mark and the Renewal of a Defensive Mark <PDF 21KB>

26.02 Handling of a Case in which, after Comparing the “Request of a Renewal Application for the Term of a Defensive Mark Right” with the Register, the Applicant is Found to be Different from the Owner of the Defensive Mark Right <PDF 18KB>

(26.51)Handling of a Case in which a Renewal Application for the Term of a Defensive Mark Right is Filed in an Overlapped Manner →45.01 <PDF 16KB>

[27. Collective Trademark, Regional Collective Trademark]

27.01 Approach for Registering Collective Trademarks <PDF 159KB>

27.02 Handling of Regional Collective Trademarks <PDF 23KB>

27.71 Approach to an International Trademark Registration Application Mentioning the Expression “Collective mark, certification mark, or guarantee mark” <PDF 33KB>

[28. Trademark Used for Services or Retail Services]

28.01 Handling of the Indications of Services not Complying with the Attached Table of Enforcement Ordinance of the Trademark Act <PDF 26KB>

28.02 Handling of Exhibition and Priority Claim Procedure Pertaining to Application Designating Retail or Wholesale Services (Relating to Article 5 of the Supplementary Provisions) <PDF 39KB>

28.03 Special Provisions concerning Examination for Earlier and Later Trademark Applications Designating Retail Services Filed During the Exception Period (Relating to Article 7 of Supplementary Provisions) <PDF 23KB>

28.04 A Claim of Application of Special Provisions based on Use and Its Requirements: Relating to Article 8(1) and (2) of the Supplementary Provisions <PDF 52KB>

28.05 Examination on Trademark Applications Claiming Application of the Special Provisions based on Use <PDF 39KB>

28.06 Handling of a Case Where the Recording of the Ownership of a Trademark Application is Changed Before and After Claiming Application of the Special Provisions based on Use Pertaining to Retail or Wholesale Services <PDF 25KB>

28.07 Approach for recognizing the trademark used for services or retail services connected to subsidiary companies, related companies, union members, or affiliates of an applicant who files an application for a trademark of services or retail services under the special provision, as a trademark used for services or retail services connected to the business of the applicant <PDF 30KB>

28.08 Purpose of Article 4 of the Cabinet Order Stipulating Transitional Measures on the Enforcement of the Act for Partial Revision of the Design Act, etc. <PDF 43KB>

[31. Change of Gist]

31.01 Handling of an Amendment Related to a Description of a “Three-Dimensional Trademark” Pursuant to Article 5(2) of the Trademark Act <PDF 27KB>

31.02 Handling of Amendment Related to the Description of “Standard Characters” Pursuant to Article 5(3) of the Trademark Act <PDF 38KB>

31.71 Handling of a Case Where a “Limitation of Goods, etc.” Reported by the International Bureau Changes the Gist <PDF 17KB>

[40. Notification of the Reasons for Refusal]

40.01 Notification of Reasons for Refusal Based on the Unregistered Prior Trademark <PDF 19KB>

40.02 Disclosure of the Reasons for Refusal under Article 4(1)(xi) of the Trademark Act <PDF 18KB>

40.03 Notification of the Reasons for Refusal within the Time Limit Prescribed by Cabinet Order <PDF 20KB>

40.04 Notice of reasons for refusal citing a trademark of which duration of the trademark right has been expired. <PDF 45KB>

40.05 Notice of reasons for refusal citing a trademark relating to a trademark right based on international registration rescinded pursuant to the central attack <PDF 17KB>

[41. Article 3 of the Trademark Act]

41.100 Main Paragraph of Article 3(1) of the Trademark Act

41.100.01 Handling of the Main Paragraph of Article 3(1) of the Trademark Act in a Case in which the Ownership of the Applicant has been Changed <PDF 17KB>

41.100.02 Handling Concerning Examinations on the Capability to Distinguish Three-Dimensional Trademarks <PDF 485KB>

41.100.03 Approach for Analyzing an Application for Confirming the Applicant’s Use or Intention of Use of a Trademark <PDF 74KB>

41.101 Article 3(1)(ⅰ) of the Trademark Act

(41.101.51)Trademarks Related to Foreign Geographical Names →41.103.01 <PDF 33KB>

41.103 Article 3(1)(ⅲ) of the Trademark Act

41.103.01 Trademarks Related to Foreign Geographical Names <PDF 33KB>

41.103.02 Trademarks Using Names of Mountains, Rivers and Building Structures <PDF 63KB>

41.103.03 Explanation of the “Handling of Trademark Application Consisting of Geographical Names in Japan and overseas” <PDF 58KB>

(41.103.51)Handling Concerning Examinations on the Capability to Distinguish Three-Dimensional Trademarks →41.100.02 <PDF 485KB>

(41.103.52)Agreements between Governments Abroad and Japan →88.01 <PDF 973KB>

41.105 Article 3(1)(ⅴ) of the Trademark Act

(41.105.51)Handling Concerning Examinations on the Capability to Distinguish Three-Dimensional Trademarks →41.100.02 <PDF 973KB>

41.106 Article 3(1)(ⅵ) of the Trademark Act

(41.106.51)Handling Concerning Examinations on the Capability to Distinguish Three-Dimensional Trademarks →41.100.02 <PDF 973KB>

(41.106.52)Explanation of the “Handling of Trademark Application Consisting of Geographical Names in Japan and overseas” →41.103.03 <PDF 58KB>

41.200 Article 3(2) of the Trademark Act

(42.200.51)Handling Concerning Examinations on the Capability to Distinguish Three-Dimensional Trademarks →41.100.02 <PDF 973KB>

[42. Article 4 of the Trademark Act]

42.101 Article 4(1)(ⅰ) of the Trademark Act

42.101.01 Handling of Foreign National Flags <PDF 24KB>

42.103 Article 4(1)(ⅲ) of the Trademark Act

42.103.01 Interpretation of Article 4(1)(ⅲ) and (ⅴ) of the Trademark Act <PDF 20KB>

42.104 Article 4(1)(ⅳ) of the Trademark Act

42.104.01 Emblems of the Red Cross and Others Stipulated in Article 4(1)(ⅳ) of the Trademark Act <PDF 27KB>

42.105 Article 4(1)(ⅴ) of the Trademark Act

(42.105.51)Interpretation of Article 4(1)(ⅲ) and (ⅴ) of the Trademark Act →42.103.01 <PDF 20KB>

42.106 Article 4(1)(ⅵ) of the Trademark Act

42.106.01 Handling of Universiade Marks, etc <PDF 75KB>

42.107 Article 4(1)(ⅶ) of the Trademark Act

42.107.01 Handling of Trademarks Composed of Words or Figures that are Discriminatory or Give Unpleasant Impressions to Others <PDF 22KB>

42.107.02 Handling of Trademarks that may Represent or be Confused with a State Qualification, etc. (e.g. OOO(Publicly-certified OOO) or OOO(Professor OOO)) <PDF 49KB>

42.107.03 Handling of Marks related to Gangs (Gang Marks, etc.) <PDF 21KB>

42.107.04 Approach to Application Filed for Registering a Trademark Created after the Name of a Historical Person or Name of a Well-Known or Famous Deceased Person <PDF 72KB>

(42.107.51)Trademarks Related to Foreign Geographical Names →41.103.01 <PDF 33KB>

(42.107.52)Administrative Policy Concerning Protection of Foreign Marks etc. →42.119.02 <PDF 42KB>

42.108 Article 4(1)(ⅷ) of the Trademark Act

(42.108.51)Trademarks Related to Foreign Geographical Names →41.103.01 <PDF 33KB>

42.110 Article 4(1)(ⅹ) of the Trademark Act

42.110.01 Applying Article 4(1)(ⅹ), etc. of the Trademark Act to a regular application for registering a trademark containing a regional collective trademark <PDF 91KB>

(42.110.51)Trademarks Related to Foreign Geographical Names →41.103.01 <PDF 33KB>

(42.110.52)Handling of Materials Related to “Trademarks Widely Recognized by Consumers” →42.119.01 <PDF 25KB>

(42.110.53)Administrative Policy Concerning Protection of Foreign Marks etc. →42.119.02 <PDF 42KB>

(42.110.54)Trademark Identical or Similar to Another Person’s Well-Known Trademark →47.101.08 <PDF 68KB>

42.111 Article 4(1)(xi) of the Trademark Act

42.111.01 Handling of Identification of the Applicant <PDF 66KB>

42.111.02 Written Explanations and Evidence Showing the Actual State of Transaction Activity of a Trademark Owner of a Cited Trademark in the Process of Examination of the Filed Application According to Article 4(1)(xi) of the Trademark Act <PDF 20KB>

(42.111.51)Handling of Materials Related to “Trademarks Widely Recognized by Consumers” →42.119.01 <PDF 25KB>

(42.111.52)Administrative Policy Concerning Protection of Foreign Marks etc.→42.119.02 <PDF 42KB>

(42.111.53)Determining Similarity between a Filed Trademark and Another Person’s Trademark (Regional Collective Trademark) →47.101.06 <PDF 75KB>

42.113 Article 4(1)(xiii) of the Trademark Act

42.113.01 Necessary transitional measures accompanied by the abolishment of the provision relating to Article 4(1)(xiii) of the Trademark Act <PDF 36KB>

42.115 Article 4(1)(xv) of the Trademark Act

(42.115.51) Trademarks Related to Foreign Geographical Names →41.103.01 <PDF 33KB>

(42.115.52) Trademarks Using Names of Mountains, Rivers and Building Structures →41.103.02 <PDF 63KB>

(42.115.53) Handling of Materials Related to “Trademarks Widely Recognized by Consumers” →42.119.01 <PDF 25KB>

(42.115.54) Administrative Policy Concerning Protection of Foreign Marks etc. →42.119.02 <PDF 42KB>

(42.115.55) Approach for Determining the Potential Confusion over the Source of Goods and Services Connected to the Business between the Applicant and Another Person (Regional Collective Trademark) →47.101.09 <PDF 38KB>

(42.115.56) Applying Article 4(1)(x), etc. of the Trademark Act to a Regular Application for Registering a Trademark containing a Regional Collective Trademark →42.110.01 <PDF 91KB>

42.116 Article 4(1)(xvi) of the Trademark Act

(42.116.51) Trademarks Related to Foreign Geographical Names →41.103.01 <PDF 33KB>

(42.116.52) Trademarks Using Names of Mountains, Rivers and Building Structures →41.103.02 <PDF 63KB>

(42.116.53) Descriptions of the Designated Goods or Services with Respect to the Relationship with “the Name of the Region”(Regional Collective Trademark) →47.101.07 <PDF 17KB>

(42.116.54) Agreements between Governments Abroad and Japan →88.01 <PDF 973KB>

42.117 Article 4(1)(xvii) of the Trademark Act

42.117.01 Interpretation of Article 4(1)(xvii) of the Trademark Act based on the TRIPS Agreement <PDF 39KB>

42.117.02 Designation of the Place of Origin based on the Provision under Article 4(1)(xvii) of the Trademark Act <PDF 56KB>

42.117.03 Examples of Marks that Indicate the Origin of Wines or Spirits Produced in World Trade Organization (WTO) Member Countries <PDF 17KB>

(42.117.51) Agreements between Governments Abroad and Japan →88.01 <PDF 973KB>

42.118 Article 4(1)(xviii) of the Trademark Act

42.118.01 Handling of a Three-dimensional Shape Essential to the Functions of Packaging of Goods (Article 4(1)(xviii) of the Trademark Act) <PDF 19KB>

42.119 Article 4(1)(xix) of the Trademark Act

42.119.01 Handling of Materials Related to “Trademarks Widely Recognized by Consumers” <PDF 25KB>

42.119.02 Administrative Policy Concerning Protection of Foreign Marks etc. <PDF 42KB>

42.119.03 Examination concerning Article 4(1)(xix) of the Trademark Act <PDF 23KB>

[44. Applications Filed on the Same Date]

44.01 Handling of Cases where Two or More Trademark Applications were Filed on the Same Date Provided in Article 8(2), (4) and (5) of the Trademark Act <PDF 25KB>

[45. Overlapping Application]

45.01 Handling of a Case in which a Renewal Application for the Term of a Defensive Mark Right is Filed in an Overlapped Manner <PDF 16KB>

45.02 Handling of a Trademark Application that Overlaps witha Trademark subject to Reclassification <PDF 119KB>

45.71 Handling of Special Provisions for Time of Filing Application for International Trademark Registration under Article 68-10 of Trademark Act <PDF 61KB>

[46. Article 6 of the Trademark Act]

46.01 Administration of Examinations of Unclearly Designated Goods or Services <PDF 159KB>

[47. Article 7-2 of the Trademark Act]

47.101.01 A Trademark Filed for Registering a Regional Collective Trademark Which is Entitled to be Registered <PDF 20KB>

47.101.02 Trademarks to be Used by Members of a Collective <PDF 17KB>

47.101.03 Filing a Regional Collective Trademark Well Known among Consumers <PDF 26KB>

47.101.04 Trademarks Composed only of a Regional Name and a Goods or Service Name, etc. <PDF 47KB>

47.101.05 Names of Regions in the Trademarks Having a Close Relationship with the Goods or Services <PDF 23KB>

47.101.06 Determining Similarity between a Filed Trademark and Another Person’s Trademark <PDF 75KB>

47.101.07 Descriptions of the Designated Goods or Services with Respect to the Relationship with “the Name of the Region” <PDF 17KB>

47.101.08 Trademark Identical or Similar to Another Person’s Well-Known Trademark <PDF 68KB>

47.101.09 Approach for Determining the Potential Confusion over the Source of Goods and Services Connected to the Business between the Applicant and Another Person <PDF 38KB>

47.101.10 Members of the Collectives Connected to Regional Collective Trademarks <PDF 22KB>

(47.101.51) Applying Article 4(1)(x), etc. of the Trademark Act to a Regular Application for Registering a Trademark containing a Regional Collective Trademark →42.110.01 <PDF 91KB>

[48. Renewal]

48.01 Approach to Application for Registering Renewal of Trademark Duration Relating to Multiple Registrations of a Trademark <PDF 56KB>

(48.51) Handling of Identification of the Applicant →42.111.01 <PDF 66KB>

[49. Reclassification]

49.01 Handling of Examination for Reclassification <PDF 444KB>

49.02 Handling a Case in which, after Comparing the Requester of Reclassification and the Register, the Requester was Found to be Different from the Trademark Right Owner <PDF 19KB>

(49.51) Handling of a Trademark Application that Overlaps witha Trademark subject to Reclassification →45.02 <PDF 119KB>

[85. Laying Open of Applications]

85.01 “Trademarks that are liable to Contravene Public Order or Morality” and “Designated Goods and/or Services that are liable to Contravene Public Order or Morality” that are not Published in Publication of Unexamined Applications <PDF 22KB>

85.71 Handling Preparation of Translations of Designated Goods and/or Services, Claiming in an International Trademark Application and Their Publication in a Gazette, etc. <PDF 59KB>

[88. Agreements between Governments Abroad and Japan]

88.01 Agreements between Governments Abroad and Japan <PDF 973KB>

[89. Offering Information]

89.01 Offering Information concerning a Trademark Application <PDF 46KB>

89.02 Offering Information Concerning a Mark Indicating a State, a Local Public Entity, or an Organization, etc. Working in the Public Interest <PDF 20KB>

89.03 Offering information concerning the prize of an exhibition <PDF 61KB>

[A1.Basic Registration or Basic Application]

A1.01 Handling of Two or More Basic Trademark Registrations or Trademark Applications <PDF 17KB>

[A2. Trademark Claimed in International Application]

A2.01 Handling Concerning Identification of a Trademark Claimed in an International Trademark Application and the Trademark Claimed in the basic Registration or Application <PDF 25KB>

A2.02 Handling Concerning Identification of Trademarks when the Basic Registration or Basic Application is a Three-Dimensional Trademark <PDF 29KB>

A2.03 Handling Concerning Declaration of Standard Characters and Identification of Trademarks Regarding an International Application when the Trademark Claimed in the Basic Registration or Basic Application is in Standard Characters <PDF 29KB>

A2.04 Handling the Identicalness of a Trademark which Has Color as a Constituent Element <PDF 20KB>

A2.05 Handling of Transliteration of a Trademark Concerning an International Trademark Application (Notation in Alphanumerical Characters Other than Roman Letters, and Arabic or Roman Numerals) <PDF 58KB>

A2.06 Handling of Translation of a Trademark Concerning an International Trademark Application <PDF 17KB>

A2.07 Handling of the Description of a Trademark of an International Trademark Application <PDF 25KB>

[A3. Goods or Services Claimed in an International Application]

A3.01 Handling the Identification of Goods and/or Services Concerning an International Trademark Application <PDF 22KB>

A3.02 Handling the Description of Classes in an International Trademark Application <PDF 19KB>

A3.03 Handling of a Case in which the International Bureau Reports a Defect in the Description of the Goods and Services for which International Registration is Sought <PDF 157KB>

[A8. Notification to the International Bureau]

A8.01 Report to the International Bureau in a Case in which All or a Part of the Designated Goods and/or Services Concerning the Basic Registration or Basic Application have Lapsed <PDF 52KB>

A8.02 Report to the International Bureau in a Case in which the Basic Registration or Basic Application is Divided <PDF 17KB>

[Appendices]

Appendix1  List of Standard Characters <PDF 1,147KB>

(→19.01) <PDF 17KB>

Appendix 2 Trademarks Indicating a Place of Origin of Wines or Spirits of WTO Member Countries <PDF 139KB>

(→42.117.03) <PDF 17KB>

[Last updated 29 March 2013]