The Step-by-step Guide for Utility Model

• Procedures for Obtaining a Utility Model Right

Table of Contents

• Filing
• Search/Dossier
• Examination
• Registration/Renew
• PCT International Application

Filing

Filing

If you do not have a permanent address or residence (office, if the applicant is a legal entity) in Japan, a legal representative (such as a patent attorney) with a permanent address or residence in Japan must be appointed as a “Patent Administrator” (Article 8, Patent Act). In addition, overseas residents cannot submit the documents directly to our Office by any means. The documents have to be submitted to our Office by a representative (e.g., patent attorney) in Japan.

• Utility Model Act (External link)
• Sample forms for applications

Fee

• Schedule of fees
  Overseas residents cannot make a payment of any fees directly to our Office by any means, including the payment by bank account transfer, credit card, or check etc. The payment has to be made by your representative (e.g., patent attorney) in Japan.
• FAQs for “How to apply for a patent, a utility model, design, trademark to the Japan Patent Office”

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Search/Dossier

• J-PlatPat（External Link）
  You can search patent information on the website of the Japan Platform for Patent Information (J-PlatPat) .The J-PlatPat provides a database of publications of patents, utility models, designs and trademarks. And you can also check the current legal status of each application through this service. Machine translated publications are available in the J-PlatPat database free of charge.
• FAQs for Searching for Patents, Utility Models, Designs, Trademarks

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Examination

Examination Guidelines

• Examination Guidelines for Patent and Utility Model
  Summary of when and how laws need to be applied to examination procedures
• Examination Handbook for Patent and Utility Model
  Summary of which practices and points to be considered for examination procedures, providing sample case examples and court precedents

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Registration/Renew

• Registration

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PCT International Application

• PCT international Application of The Step-by-step Guide for Patent

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[Last updated 23 March 2021]

Contact

General Affairs Division, Japan Patent Office FAX: +81-3-3593-2397 E-mail: PA0270@jpo.go.jp