The "Examination Guidelines for Trademarks" are made and published for the sake of standardization and uniformity in the examination of trademark application at the Japanese Patent Office.
We have published this "Examination Guidelines for Trademarks" in English for overseas users.
Furthermore, there are some examples which have been changed partly from the original Japanese version for easy understanding.
We hope this "Examination Guidelines for Trademarks" in English is useful for efficient management of Trade Marks.
INDEX
Chapter I: Article 3(1)
(Requirements for trademark registration)
- Part 1:Article 3(1) <PDF 49KB>
- Part 2:Principal Paragraph of Article 3(1) <PDF 139KB>
- Part 3:Article 3(1)(i) <PDF 52KB>
- Part 4:Article 3(1)(ii) <PDF 48KB>
- Part 5:Article 3(1)(iii) <PDF 58KB>
- Part 6:Article 3(1)(iv) <PDF 51KB>
- Part 7:Article 3(1)(v) <PDF 56KB>
- Part 8:Article 3(1)(vi) <PDF 53KB>
- Chapter II:Article 3(2) <PDF 64KB>
- (Distinctiveness of Trademark in Use)
Chapter III:Article 4(1)(3)
(Unregistrable Trademarks)
- Part 1:Article 4(1)(i) <PDF 48KB>
- Part 2:Article 4(1)(ii), (iii) and (v) <PDF 86KB>
- Part 3:Article 4(1)(iv) <PDF 65KB>
- Part 4:Article 4(1)(vi) <PDF 44KB>
- Part 5:Article 4(1)(vii) <PDF 12KB>
- Part 6:Article 4(1)(viii) <PDF 45KB>
- Part 7:Article 4(1)(ix) <PDF 44KB>
- Part 8:Article 4(1)(x) <PDF 52KB>
- Part 9:Article 4(1)(xi) <PDF 120KB>
- Part 10:Article 4(1)(xii) <PDF 44KB>
- Part 11:Article 4(1)(xiii) <PDF 47KB>
- Part 12:Article 4(1)(xiv) <PDF 45KB>
- Part 13:Article 4(1)(xv) <PDF 61KB>
- Part 15:Article 4(1)(xvii) <PDF 45KB>
- Part 16:Article 4(1)(xviii) <PDF 45KB>
- Part 17:Article 4(1)(xix) <PDF 53KB>
- Part 18:Article 4(3) <PDF 52KB>
Chapter IV:Article 5<PDF 101KB>
(Applications for Trademark Registration)
(Single trademark on each application)
Chapter VI:Article 7<PDF 50KB>
(Collective Trademarks)
Chapter VII:Article 7-2
(Regionally based collective trademarks)
Part 1:Principal Paragraph of Article 7-2(1)<PDF 56KB>
Part 2:Article 7-2(1)(i), (ii) and (iii)<PDF 60KB>
Part 3:Article 7-2(2)<PDF 57KB>
Chapter VIII:Article 8<PDF 76KB>
(First-to-File Rule)
Form 1 (For applications prior to December 31, 1999)
Form 2 (For applications from January 1, 2000 forth)
Example of Statement Proving Agreement Reached through Consultations
Chapter IX:Article 10<PDF 48KB>
(Division of application for trademark registration)
Chapter X:Article 15-3<PDF 48KB>
(Unregistered Prior Trademark)
Chapter XI:Article 16<PDF 57KB>
(Examiner's Decision that a Trademark is to be Registered)
Chapter XII:Article 16-2 and 17-2<PDF 68KB>
(Dismissal of amendment)
Chapter XIII:Article 64<PDF 53KB>
(Registrability of Defensive Marks)
Chapter XIV:Article 65-2, 65-3 and 65-4<PDF 67KB>
(Duration of right based on defensive mark registration)
(Special Provisions Relating to Application for International Registration)
Chapter XVI:Article 2, 3, 4, 6, 11, 12 and 24 of Supplementary Provisions<PDF 64KB>
(Reclassification)
Chapter XVIII:Article 7 and 8 of the Supplementary Provisions of Act No. 55 of 2006<PDF 774KB>
(Trademark Applications for Retail Services Filed During the Exception Period)
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- <Contact>
- Trademark Division
- Japan Patent office,
- Fax:+81-3-3580-5907
- E-mailPA1T00@jpo.go.jp
[Last updated 25 May 2007]