７２ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trademark Act (Act No. 127 of April 13, 1959) 
Latest revision: Act No.42 of May 21,2021  
Table of Contents 
Chapter I General Provisions (Articles 1 and 2) 
Chapter II Trademark Registration and Applications for the Registration of 
Trademarks (Articles 3 through 13-2) 
Chapter III Examination Proceedings (Articles 14 through 17-2) 
Chapter IV Trademark Rights 
Section 1 Trademark Rights (Articles 18 through 35) 
Section 2 Infringement of Rights (Articles 36 through 39) 
Section 3 Registration Fees (Articles 40 through 43) 
Chapter IV-2 Opposition to Registration (Articles 43-2 through 43-15) 
Chapter V Trials and Appeals (Articles 44 through 56-2) 
Chapter VI Retrials and Litigation (Articles 57 through 63-2) 
Chapter VII Defensive Marks (Articles 64 through 68) 
Chapter VII-2 Special Provisions under Protocol Relating to the Madrid 
Agreement 
Section 1 Application for International Registration (Articles 68-2 through 
68-8) 
Section 2 Special Provisions Pertaining to International Applications for 
Trademark Registration (Articles 68-9 through 68-31) この商標法の翻訳は、令和 3 年法律第 42 号のうち、令和 4 年 4 月 1 日施行まで
の改正について作成したものです。 
この法令の翻訳は公定訳ではありません。法的効力を有するのは日本語の法令自
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用に伴って発生した問題について、一切の責任を負いかねますので、法律上の問
題に関しては、官報に掲載された日本語の法令を参照してください。 
  This English translation of the Trademark Act has been prepared (up to the 
revisions of Act No. 42 of 2021 (Effective October 1, 2022)). 
  This is an unofficial translation. Only the ori ginal Japanese texts of laws 
and regulations have legal effect, and the translations are to be used solely as 
reference material to aid in the understanding of Japanese laws and 
regulations.  
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reliability or currency of the legislative material provided in this Website, or 
for any consequence resulting from use of the information in this Website. For 
all purposes of int erpreting and applying law to any legal issue or dispute, 
users should consult the original Japanese texts published in the Official 
Gazette.  
 
Section 3 Special Provisions Concerning Applications for Trademark 
Registration (Articles 68-32 through 68-39) 
Chapter VIII Miscellaneous Provisions (Articles 68-40 through 77-2) 
Chapter IX Penal Provisions (Articles 78 through 85) 
Supplementary Provisions 
 
Chapter I General Provisions 
 
(Purpose) 
Article 1 The purpose of this Act is, through the protection of trademarks, to 
ensure upholding the reputation of businesses of persons who use trademarks, 
thereby contributing to the development of the industry and the protection of 
the interests of consumers. 
 
(Definitions) 
Article 2 (1) "Trademark" in this Act means, among those which can be perceived 
by people, any character, figure, sign or three-dimensional shape or color, or 
any combination thereof; sounds, or anything else specified by Cabinet Order 
(hereinafter referred to as a "mark") which is: 
(i) used by a person in connection with a good which the person produces, 
certifies or assigns as its business; or 
(ii) used by a person in connection with the services which the person provides 
or certifies as its business (except those provided for in the preceding item). 
(2) "Services", as set forth in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph, are to include 
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 refers to any of the following 
acts: 
(i) affixing a mark to goods or packaging of goods; 
(ii) assigning, delivering, displaying for the purpose of assignment or delivery, 
exporting, importing or providing through a telecommunications line, goods 
with affixed marks or goods with marks affixed on their packaging; 
(iii) in the course of the provision of services, to affix a mark to articles to be 
used by a person who receives those services (including articles to be assigned 
or loaned; the same applies hereinafter); 
(iv) in the course of the provision of services, to provide those services by using 
articles to which a mark is affixed and which are to be used by a person who 
receives those services; 
(v) for the purpose of providing services, to display articles to be used in the 
provision of those services (including articles to be used by a person who 
receives those services; the same applies hereinafter) to which a mark is  
 
affixed; 
(vi) in the course of providing services, to affix a mark to articles pertaining to 
services received by a person; 
(vii) in the course of the provision of services through use of a screen, by 
electronic or magnetic means (meaning by electronic means, magnetic means, 
or other means that is impossible to perceive through the human senses 
alone; the same applies in the following item), to provide those services by 
displaying a mark on the image viewer; 
(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 this content, to which a mark is affixed by electronic 
or magnetic means; 
(ix) in the case of sound marks, beyond what is listed in the preceding items, 
the act of producing sounds when transferring or delivering goods, or 
providing services; and 
(x) Beyond those listed in the preceding items, acts specified by Cabinet Order. 
(4) In cases of marks listed in the following items, affixing a mark to goods or 
other articles provided for in the preceding paragraph is to include those listed 
in each of those items: 
(i) a mark of any character, figure, sign or three-dimensional shape, or any 
combination thereof, or any combination thereof with colors: formed in the 
shape of goods, packaging of goods, articles to be used for the provision of 
services, or advertisement materials relating to goods or services; and 
(ii) sound marks: when a sound mark is recorded on a recording medium affixed   
to goods, articles to be used for the provision of services, or advertisement 
materials relating to goods or services (including when the goods, articles to 
be used for the provision of services, or advertisement materials relating to 
goods or services themselves are recording media). 
(5) "Registered trademark" in this Act means a trademark that has been 
registered as a trademark. 
(6) In this Act services may be included within the scope of what is considered 
similar to goods, and goods may in turn be included within the scope of what is 
considered similar to services. 
(7) In this Act, an act of importing goods with affixed marks, etc. includes an act 
of a person in a foreign country having another person bring goods with affixed 
marks, etc. from the foreign country into Japan. 
 
Chapter II Trademark Registration and Applications for Trademark 
Registration 
 
(Requirements for Trademark Registration)  
 
Article 3 (1) Any trademark 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 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 packaging; the same applies in 
Article 26 paragraph (1), items (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 the 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 name or name; 
(v) consists solely of a very simple and common mark; or 
(vi) is beyond 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) through (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 may be 
registered if the trademark: 
(i) is identical with, or similar to, the Japanese national flag, the imperial 
chrysanthemum crest, a decoration, a medal or a foreign national flag; 
(ii) is identical with, or similar to, the coats of arms or any other national 
government emblems (excluding national flags of any country party to the 
Paris Convention, members of the World Trade Organization or Contracting 
Parties to the Trademark Law Treaty) of a country party 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 applies 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 representing the United Nations or  
 
any other international organization (referred to as an "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 the trademark is used in connection with the goods or 
services or goods or services similar thereto; and 
(b) is identical with, or similar to, a mark indicating an abbreviation of any 
international organization, which has been used for goods or services, that is 
not likely to be mistaken regarding its 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, 
paragraph (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 party 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 the 
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 well-known mark indicating a national 
government, a local government, an agency thereof, a non-profit organization 
undertaking business for public interest, or a non-profit enterprise 
undertaking business for public interest; 
(vii) is likely to negatively affect public policy; 
(viii) contains the portrait of another person, or the name, well-known 
pseudonym, professional name or pen name of another person, or well-known 
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 their 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 the trademark is used in connection with the 
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 that 
trademark, if such a trademark is used in connection with the designated 
goods or designated services relating to that registered trademark (referring 
to goods or services designated in accordance with Article 6, paragraph (1) 
(including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 68, 
paragraph (1)); the same applies 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 applies hereinafter), if 
the 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, paragraph (1) of the Plant Variety Protection and 
Seed Act (Act No. 83 of 1998), if the 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) 
through (xiv) inclusive); 
(xvi) is likely to mislead as to the quality of the goods or services; 
(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 those members from being 
used on wines or spirits not originating from the region of those members, if 
such a trademark is used in connection with wines or spirits not originating 
from the region in Japan or of those members; 
(xviii) consists solely of features provided by Cabinet Order among features 
that are naturally provided to goods, etc. (goods, or packaging of goods, or 
services; the same applies in Article 26, paragraph (1), item (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 the trademark is used for unfair purposes 
(referring to gaining unfair profits, causing damage to the other persons, or 
any other unfair purpose, the same applies hereinafter) (except those 
provided for in each of the preceding items). 
(2) Where the national government or a local government, an agency thereof, a  
 
non-profit organization undertaking business for public interest, or a person 
undertaking non-profit activities for public interest files an application for 
trademark registration falling under item (vi) of the preceding paragraph, the 
provisions of those items do not apply. 
(3) Paragraph (1), items (viii), (x), (xv), (xvii) and (xix) do not apply to a trademark 
falling under any of those items which does not fall under those items 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 must submit an 
application to the Commissioner of the Patent Office accompanied by the 
required documents. The application must state the following: 
(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, paragraph 
(2). 
(2) Where a person desires to register a trademark listed as follows, the 
application must contain a statement indicating thereof: 
(i) a trademark which consists of any character, figure, sign or three-dimensional 
shape or colors, or any combination thereof, where those characters, figures, 
signs or three-dimensional shapes or colors in connection with that trademark 
change; 
(ii) a trademark which consists of any three-dimensional shape (including the 
combination with any character, figure, sign or three-dimensional shape or 
colors, or any combination thereof) (excluding those listed in the preceding 
item); 
(iii) a trademark which consists solely of colors (excluding those listed in item 
(i)); 
(iv) a trademark which consists solely of sounds; or 
(v) beyond those listed in each of the preceding items, trademarks provided by 
Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. 
(3) When 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 must contain a statement indicating 
thereof. 
(4) When a person desires to register any trademark provided by Order of the 
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the person must state a detailed 
description of the trademark in the application pursuant to Order of the 
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and affix materials provided by  
 
Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to the application. 
(5) The statement and materials in the preceding paragraph must 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 such a trademark is required to be 
stated, that portion of the trademark is deemed not to be a part of the 
trademark; provided, however, that this does not apply to an area specified and 
identified as an area to be colored in the same color as that of the column. 
 
(Approval of Filing Dates) 
Article 5-2 (1) The Commissioner of the Patent Office must approve the filing 
date of an application for trademark registration as that of 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 the trademark is unclear; 
(ii) the name of the applicant for the trademark registration is not stated or the 
statement thereof is not sufficient to identify the applicant; 
(iii) the trademark for which registration is sought is not stated in the 
application; and 
(iv) the designated goods or designated services are not stated. 
(2) Where an application for trademark registration falls under any of the items 
of the preceding paragraph, the Commissioner of the Patent Office must order 
the person who desires to register the trademark to supplement the application, 
designating a reasonable time limit for doing so. 
(3) Supplementing an application for trademark registration must 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 that application 
within the designated time limit as provided in that paragraph, the 
Commissioner of the Patent Office must approve 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 that 
application within the designated time limit as provided for in that paragraph, 
the Commissioner of the Patent Office may dismiss that application for 
trademark registration. 
 
(Single Trademarks on Each Application) 
Article 6 (1) An application for trademark registration must 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 must 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 must 
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 legal personality, and companies), or any other association 
established pursuant to a special Act including business cooperative (except 
those which do not have legal personality), or a foreign corporation equivalent 
thereto is entitled to obtain a collective trademark registration with respect to 
a trademark to be used by its members. 
(2) For the purpose of the application of Article 3, paragraph (1), in the case of 
the preceding paragraph, "applicant" in that paragraph is to read "applicant or 
its members." 
(3) Any person who desires to register a collective trademark pursuant to 
paragraph (1) must, at the time of filing of an application for trademark 
registration pursuant to Article 5, paragraph (1), submit to the Commissioner 
of the Patent Office a document certifying that the applicant for trademark 
registration is a corporation that falls under paragraph (1). 
 
(Regional Collective Trademarks) 
Article 7-2 (1) Any association established by a special Act, including a business 
cooperative (those which do not have legal personality are excluded, and 
limited to those which are established by a special Act providing, without just 
cause, that the association must not refuse the enrollment of any person who 
is eligible to become a member, or that the association must not impose on 
any of its prospective members any condition that is greater than those 
imposed on its existing members), a commercial transaction, commercial and 
industrial association or specified non-profit corporation specified in Article 
2, paragraph (2) of Act on Promotion of Specified Non-profit Activities (Act 
No. 7 of 1998), or a foreign corporation equivalent thereto (hereinafter 
referred to as an "association, etc.") is 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 that 
trademark, that trademark is well known among consumers as indicating the 
goods or services pertaining to the business of the applicant or its members, 
notwithstanding the provisions of Article 3 (except in cases falling under 
Article 3, paragraph (1), item (i) or (ii)):  
 
(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 that 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 those goods or services to the 
equivalent extent, for which the trademark pertaining to that application has 
been used by the applicant or its members, or abbreviation thereof. 
(3) For the purpose of the application of Article 3, paragraph (1) (limited to the 
part pertaining to items (i) and (ii)) in the case of paragraph (1), "applicant" in 
the paragraph is to read "applicant or its members." 
(4) Any person who desires to register a regional collective trademark pursuant 
to paragraph (1) must, at the time of filing of an application for trademark 
registration pursuant to Article 5, paragraph (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 Applications) 
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 is 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 the applications is 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 or appeal decision on an 
application for trademark registration becomes final and binding, the 
application is, for the purposes of the application of the preceding two 
paragraphs, deemed never to have been filed. 
(4) In cases such as that in paragraph (2), the Commissioner of the Patent Office 
must require the applicants for trademark registration to arrange 
consultations among the applicants as set forth in the paragraph and to report 
the result thereof, designating a reasonable time limit for doing so. 
(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, is 
entitled to register the trademark in question. 
 
(Special Provisions Concerning the Time of Filing an 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., 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 
party 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 the exhibition in its territory, or an international exhibition held by the 
government, etc. of a country which is not a country party 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 the 
exhibition in its territory that conforms to the standards specified by the 
Commissioner of the Patent Office, by the exhibitor of the goods or services 
bearing the trademark within six months from the date of exhibition of the 
goods or services, that application is be deemed to have been filed at the time 
of exhibition of the goods or services. 
(2) Any person who intends to apply the preceding paragraph in connection with 
a trademark relating to an application for trademark registration must 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 that paragraph (referred to as a 
"certificate" in the following paragraph and paragraph (4)), within thirty days 
from the filing date of an application for trademark registration.  
 
(3) Where a person submitting a certificate is unable to submit the certificate 
within the time limit under the preceding paragraph, that person may, in 
accordance with Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, submit 
the certificate to the Commissioner of the Patent Office only within the time 
limit as provided in Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, 
even after the expiration of the time limit. 
(4) Where, due to any grounds not attributable to 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 paragraph, submit the certificate to the Commissioner of 
the Patent Office within 14 days (two months for overseas residents) from the 
date on which the reasons for not submitting ceased to be applicable, but not 
later than six months after the expiration of that time limit. 
 
(Priority Claims Governed by the Paris Convention) 
Article 9-2 A right of priority based on an application for registration of a 
trademark filed in a country party to the Paris Convention (limited to a 
trademark equivalent to a trademark provided in Article 2, paragraph (1), item 
(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, 
paragraph (1), item (i). 
Article 9-3 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 
of the Marrakesh Agreement 
Establishing the World Trade  
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  
 
Organization) or nationals of a 
Contracti ng Party to the Trademark 
Law Treaty 
(Amendment of Designated Goods or Trademarks for which Registration is 
Sought and Changes to Their Outline) 
Article 9-4 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 outline thereof, the application for trademark 
registration is deemed to have been filed at the time of submission of the 
written amendment relating thereto. 
 
(Division of Applications for Trademark Registration) 
Article 10 (1) An applicant for trademark registration may file one or more new 
applications 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 an examination 
proceeding, trial or appeal, or retrial examination, or that a suit against a 
decision on appeal to refuse the application is pending in court and that the 
applicant has paid the fees payable under Article 76, paragraph (2) for the 
application for trademark registration. 
(2) In the case of the preceding paragraph, the new application for trademark 
registration is deemed to have been filed at the time of filing of the original 
application for trademark registration; provided, however, that this does not 
apply for the purpose of Article 9, paragraph (2) of this Act and Articles 43, 
paragraphs (1) and (2) of the Patent Act (Act No.121 of 1959) as applied mutatis 
mutandis pursuant to Article 13, paragraph (1) of this Act (including cases 
where they are applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 43-3, paragraph 
(3) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 13, 
paragraph (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, paragraph (2) of this Act or Articles 43, paragraphs (1) 
and (2) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 13, 
paragraph (1) of this Act (including its mutatis mutandis application pursuant 
to Article 43-3, paragraph (3) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis 
pursuant to Article 13, paragraph (1) of this Act) is 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 applies 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 or appeal decision 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) through (3), the original application for trademark 
registration is deemed to have been withdrawn. 
(6) The provisions of Article 10, paragraphs (2) and (3) apply mutatis mutandis 
to the conversion of an application for trademark registration pursuant to 
paragraphs (1) through (3). 
 
Article 12 (1) An applicant for a defensive mark registration may convert the 
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 or appeal decision on the 
application for a defensive mark registration becomes final and binding. 
(3) The provisions of Article 10, paragraphs (2) and (3), and Article 11, paragraph 
(5) apply mutatis mutandis to the conversion of an application pursuant to 
paragraph (1). 
 
(Publication of Applications) 
Article 12-2 (1) Where an application for trademark registration is filed, the 
Commissioner of the Patent Office must publicize the trademark application. 
(2) The publication of a trademark application is effected by stating the following 
particulars in the trademark bulletin; provided, however, that this does not  
 
apply to the particulars listed in items (iii) and (iv), where the Commissioner 
of the Patent Office finds that publishing those particulars 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, 
paragraph (3), the trademark represented in standard characters; the same 
applies hereinafter); 
(iv) the designated goods or designated services; and 
(v) other necessary particulars beyond those matters listed in the preceding 
items. 
 
(Mutatis Mutandis Application of the Patent Act) 
Article 13 (1) The provisions of Article 43, paragraphs (1) through (4) and 
paragraphs (7) through (9) and Article 43-3, paragraphs (2) and (3) of the 
Patent Act apply mutatis mutandis to an application for trademark registration. 
In this case, the term "within the time limit provided by Order of the Ministry 
of Economy, Trade and Industry" in Article 43, paragraph (1) of that Act is 
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 that Article is 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 that Article is 
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 that Article is deemed to be 
replaced with "where a person who submits the documents under paragraph (2) 
is unable to submit the documents under that paragraph within the time limit 
provided in that paragraph, even after the expiration of that time limit," "the 
documents specified in paragraph (2) or the document specified in paragraph 
(5)" in paragraph(7) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "the 
documents specified in that paragraph as provided by Order of the Ministry of 
Economy, Trade and Industry"; "a person who has received a notice provided 
under paragraph (6)" in paragraph(8) of that Article is 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 that Article is deemed to be replaced with "the 
documents specified in paragraph (2)," "the documents or the document" in 
paragraph(8) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "the documents";  
 
"the documents specified in paragraph (2) or the document specified in 
paragraph (5)" in paragraph (9) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with 
"the documents specified in paragraph (2)"; "or members of the World Trade 
Organization" in Article 43-3, paragraph (2) of that Act is 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 is 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 that 
Article is deemed to be replaced with "Article 43"; and "preceding two 
paragraphs" in paragraph (3) of that paragraph is deemed to be replaced with 
"preceding paragraph." 
(2) The provisions of Articles 33, paragraphs (1) through (3) and Article 34, 
paragraphs (4) through (7) (Right to obtain patent) of the Patent Act apply 
mutatis mutandis to the rights deriving from an application for trademark 
registration. 
 
(Right to Monetary Claims prior to the Registration of Establishment of 
Trademark Rights) 
Article 13-2 (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 the 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) Exercising the right to claim under paragraph (1) does not preclude exercising 
the trademark right. 
(4) The right to claim under paragraph (1) is 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 or 
appeal decision to the effect that an application for trademark registration is 
to be refused becomes final and binding; where a ruling to cancel a trademark 
under Article 43-3, paragraph (2) becomes final and binding; or where, 
excluding the cases falling under the proviso to Article 46-2, paragraph (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, Article 104-3, paragraphs (1)  
 
and (2), Article 105, Article 105-2-12, Articles 105-4 through 105-6 and Article 
106 of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 39 of this Act, 
and Article 168, paragraphs (3) through (6) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis 
mutandis under Article 56, paragraph (1) of this Act and Article 719 and Article 
724 (Tort) of the Civil Code (Act No.89 of 1896) 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 their legal 
representative within three years from the time when they come to know of the 
damages and the identity of the perpetrator" in Article 724 of that Code is 
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 Proceedings 
 
(Examination Proceedings by an Examiner) 
Article 14 The Commissioner of the Patent Office must direct the examination 
proceedings of applications 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 must 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, Article 4, paragraph (1), 
Article 7-2, paragraph (1), Article 8, paragraphs (2) and (5), Article 51, 
paragraph (2) (including the case of its mutatis mutandis application under 
Article 52-2, paragraph (2)), Article 53, paragraph (2) of this Act or Article 
25 of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 77, paragraph 
(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, paragraph (5), or Article 6, paragraph (1) 
or (2). 
 
(Notification of Reasons for Refusal) 
Article 15-2 Where the examiner intends to render a decision to the effect that an  
 
application is to be refused, the examiner must 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 doing so. 
 
Article 15-3 (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 that application, if that trademark is used for goods or services identical 
with, or similar to, the designated goods or designated services pertaining to 
that other person's trademark, the examiner may notify the applicant for 
trademark registration of the fact that application for trademark registration 
will fall under Article 15, item (i) when the other person's trademark is 
registered, and provide the applicant with an opportunity to submit a written 
opinion, designating a reasonable time limit for doing so. 
(2) Where the notification set forth in the preceding paragraph has already been 
served and that other person's trademark is registered, the examiner is not 
required to serve the notification set forth in the preceding Article. 
 
(Examiner's Decisions on Trademark Registrations) 
Article 16 Where no reasons for refusal are found in connection with an 
application for trademark registration within the time limit provided by 
Cabinet Order, the examiner must render a decision to the effect that the 
trademark is to be registered. 
 
(Dismissal of Amendments) 
Article 16-2 (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 outline thereof, the 
examiner must dismiss the amendment by a ruling. 
(2) The ruling dismissing an amendment under the preceding paragraph must be 
made in writing and state reasons therefor. 
(3) Where a ruling dismissing an amendment under paragraph (1) is rendered, 
the examiner does not render any decision on the applications 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 an appeal 
under Article 45. paragraph (1) against the ruling dismissing an amendment 
under paragraph (1), the examiner must suspend the examination proceedings 
of the application for trademark registration until the appeal decision becomes 
final and binding.  
 
 
(Mutatis Mutandis Application of the Patent Act) 
Article 17 The provisions of Articles 47, paragraph (2) (Qualification of 
Examiners), Article 48 (Exclusion of Examiners), Article 52 (Formal 
Requirements for Examination Proceedings) and Article 54 (Relationship with 
Litigation) of the Patent Act apply mutatis mutandis to the examination 
proceedings of applications for trademark registration.  
 
(Mutatis Mutandis Application of the Design Act) 
Article 17-2 (1) The provisions of Article 17-3 (New Application for Designs as 
Amended) of the Design Act (Act No. 125 of 1959) apply mutatis mutandis to 
the case where an amendment is dismissed by a ruling pursuant to Article 16-
2, paragraph (1) of this Act. 
(2) The provisions of Article 17-4 of the Design Act apply mutatis mutandis to the 
case of an extension of the time limit provided in Article 17-3, paragraph (1) of 
the Design Act as applied mutatis mutandis to the preceding paragraph or 
Article 55-2, paragraph (3) (including its mutatis mutandis application under 
Article 60-2, paragraph (2)) of this Act. 
 
Chapter IV Trademark Rights 
 
Section 1 Trademark Rights 
 
(Registration of the Establishment of Trademark Rights) 
Article 18 (1) A trademark right is formed upon registration of establishment of 
the right. 
(2) Where the registration fee under Article 40, paragraph (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 or appeal decision to the effect that a 
trademark is to be registered pursuant to Article 41-2, paragraph (1) is paid, 
the establishment of the trademark right is registered. 
(3) Upon registration set forth in the preceding paragraph, the following 
particulars must to 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 particulars beyond those listed in the preceding items. 
(4) The Commissioner of the Patent Office must 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 
particulars 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 does 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) When 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 that 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 must notify the person who submitted the 
documents or the articles thereof and the reasons therefor. 
 
(Term) 
Article 19 (1) A trademark right expires after ten years from the date of 
registration of establishment of the right. 
(2) 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 term of the trademark right is registered, the term 
is to be deemed to have been renewed at the time of expiration of the original 
term. 
 
(Application for Registration of Renewal of a Trademark Right) 
Article 20 (1) A person filing an application for registration of renewal of a 
trademark right must submit to the Commissioner of the Patent Office an 
application stating the following particulars: 
(i) the name and the domicile or residence of the applicant; 
(ii) the registration number of the trademark registration; and 
(iii) beyond those listed in the preceding two items, the particulars provided by 
Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. 
(2) An application for registration of renewal must be filed during the period from 
six months prior to the expiration of the 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 that application within the 
time limit as provided by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, 
even after the expiration of that time limit. 
(4) Where the holder of trademark right fails to file an application for registration  
 
of renewal within the time limit for the request pursuant to the provisions of 
the preceding paragraph, the trademark right is deemed to have been expired 
retroactively from the time of the expiration of its term. 
 
(Restoration of Trademark Rights) 
Article 21 (1) Where the original holder of a trademark right which was deemed 
to have been expired pursuant to Article 20, paragraph (4) has justifiable 
reasons for having been unable to file an application for registration of renewal 
within the time limit for the application pursuant to Article 20, paragraph (3), 
the original holder of the trademark right may file the application only within 
the time limit as provided by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and 
Industry. 
(2) Where an application for registration of renewal is filed under the preceding 
paragraph, the term is deemed to have been renewed retroactively at the time 
of expiration of the term. 
 
(Limitations of Effects of Restored Trademark Rights) 
Article 22 The effects of a trademark right restored pursuant to Article 21, 
paragraph (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, paragraph (3) and before the registration of 
renewal of the term of the trademark right by the application under Article 
21, paragraph (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 Article 37. 
 
(Registration of Renewal) 
Article 23 (1) Where the registration fee under Article 40, paragraph (2) or the 
registration fee due and payable at the time of filing of the application for 
registration of renewal pursuant to the provisions of Article 41-2, paragraph 
(7) is paid, the renewal of the trademark right will be registered. 
(2) Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, where an application for 
registration of renewal is filed pursuant to Article 20, paragraph (3) or Article 
21, paragraph (1), the renewal of the trademark right will be registered at the 
time of payment of the registration fee under Article 40, paragraph (2) and the 
registration surcharge under Article 43, paragraph (1), or the registration fee 
due and payable at the time of filing of the application for registration of 
renewal under Article 41-2, paragraph (7) and the registration surcharge under 
Article 43, paragraph (2). 
(3) Upon registration as set forth under the preceding two paragraphs, the  
 
following matters are to 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 particulars beyond those listed in the preceding two items. 
 
(Division of Trademark Rights) 
Article 24 (1) Where there are two or more designated goods or designated 
services for which a trademark right applies, 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, paragraph (3), the division  
provided for in the preceding paragraph may be made even after the extinction 
of the trademark right, provided that a trial, retrial or court proceeding in 
connection with the case is pending. 
 
(Transfer of Trademark Rights) 
Article 24-2 (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 this right. 
(2) A trademark right in connection with an application for trademark 
registration which falls under Article 4, paragraph (2) filed by the national 
government, a local government, an agency thereof, or a non-profit 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, paragraph (2) filed by a non-profit 
enterprise undertaking a business for public interest, may not be transferred 
unless the business is transferred together with the right. 
(4) A trademark right in connection with a regionally-based collective trademark 
may not be assigned. 
 
(Transfer of Collective Trademark Rights) 
Article 24-3 (1) Upon transfer, the trademark right to a collective trademark is 
deemed to have been converted to a regular trademark right, except in cases as 
provided in the following paragraph. 
(2) Where the right holder of a collective trademark desires to transfer the 
collective trademark right, the right holder must submit an application for 
registration of transfer accompanied by a document stating thereof, and the 
documents provided in Article 7 paragraph (3), to the Commissioner of the 
Patent Office. 
 
(Request for Indication to Prevent Confusion Arising from Transfer of Trademark 
Rights)  
 
Article 24-4 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 the 
registered trademarks for its designated goods or designated services by its 
holder of trademark right, exclusive right to use or non-exclusive right to use 
is likely to damage business interests (limited to those pertaining to the 
designated goods or designated services using those 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 non-exclusive 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 Rights) 
Article 25 The holder of trademark right has an exclusive right to use the 
registered trademark in connection with the designated goods or designated 
services; provided, however, that when an exclusive right to use the trademark 
is established in connection with the trademark right, this provisions do not 
apply to the extent that the holder of exclusive right to use has an exclusive 
right to use the registered trademark. 
 
(Limitations of Effects of Trademark Rights) 
Article 26 (1) A trademark right has 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, well-
known pseudonym, professional name, pen name or well-known 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 the 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 the 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) beyond those listed in each of the preceding items, a trademark which is 
not used in the 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 does not apply where, after the 
registration of establishment of the trademark right, one's own portrait, name, 
well-known pseudonym, professional name, pen name or well-known 
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 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 Trademarks) 
Article 27 (1) The scope of a registered trademark is to be determined based on 
the trademark stated in the application. 
(2) The scope of the designated goods or designated services is to 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 is to be interpreted by considering the statement and  
 
materials of Article 5, paragraph (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 must designate three administrative judges and have them 
make an advisory opinion. 
(3) The provisions of Articles 71, paragraphs (3) and (4) of the Patent Act apply 
mutatis mutandis to the advisory opinion provided for in paragraph (1). 
 
Article 28-2 (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 must designate three administrative judges and have them 
provide the expert opinion. 
(2) The provisions of Articles 71-2, paragraph (2) of the Patent Act apply mutatis 
mutandis to the commissioned provisions of the expert opinion provided for in 
paragraph (1). 
 
(Relationship with Another Person's Patent Right) 
Article 29 When 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 that 
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 non-exclusive 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 for the trademark to which they hold the right; provided, however, that 
these provisions do not apply to the trademark right pertaining to an 
application for trademark registration provided in Article 4, paragraph (2) or a 
regionally-based collective trademark. 
(2) The holder of an exclusive right to use will 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 the right is 
granted. 
(3) The exclusive right to use may be transferred only when the consent of the 
holder of trademark right is obtained or when the transfer falls under general  
 
succession including inheritance. 
(4) The provisions of Articles 77, paragraphs (4) and (5) (establishment of pledge, 
etc.), Article 97, paragraph (2) (waiver), and Article 98, paragraph (1), item(ii) 
and Article, 98 paragraph (2) (effects of registration) of the Patent Act apply 
mutatis mutandis to an exclusive right to use. 
 
(Non-Exclusive Right to Use) 
Article 31 (1) The holder of trademark right may grant to another person a non-
exclusive right to use of the trademark to which they hold the right. 
(2) The holder of a non-exclusive right to use will have the right to use the 
registered trademark for the designated goods or designated services to the 
extent provided by the agreement under which the right is granted. 
(3) A non-exclusive right to use may be transferred only when the consent of the 
holder of trademark right (the holders of a trademark right and of an exclusive 
right to use in the case of a non-exclusive right to use granted in connection 
with an exclusive right to use) is obtained or when the transfer falls under 
general succession including inheritance. 
(4) When a non-exclusive right to use is registered, the non-exclusive right to use 
has an 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, extinction or restriction on disposition of a non-
exclusive right to use has no effect on any third party unless registered. 
(6) The provisions of Article 73, paragraph (1) (joint ownership), Article 94, 
paragraph (2) (establishment of right of pledge) and Article 97, paragraph (3) 
(waiver) of the Patent Act apply mutatis mutandis to a non-exclusive right to 
use. 
 
(Right of Members of Corporations or Associations) 
Article 31-2 (1) Members of a corporation provided in Article 7, paragraph (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") have the right to use a registered trademark 
relating to a collective trademark or a regionally-based collective trademark for 
the designated goods or designated services as provided by that corporation or 
association, etc.; provided, however, that this is in the case where 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 Article 24-4, Article 29, Article 50, Article  
 
52-2, Article 53 and Article 73, collective members or regional collective 
members is deemed to be holders of non-exclusive right to use. 
(4) For the purpose of the application of Article 33, paragraph (1), item (iii) in 
relation to registered trademarks in connection with collective trademarks and 
regionally-based collective trademarks, "or a person who has the non-exclusive 
right to use which is effective regarding the trademark right or the exclusive 
right to use under Article 31, paragraph (4) of this Act. " in that item is to read, 
"or a person who has the non-exclusive right to use which is effective regarding 
the trademark right or the exclusive right to use under Article 31, paragraph 
(4) of this Act, or collective members or regional collective members who have 
the right to use that trademark." 
 
(Right to Use a 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 the other person's application for the trademark 
registration, and as a result, at the time of filing of the application for 
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 9-4 of this Act or Article 
17-3, paragraph (1) of the Design Act as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 
17-2, paragraph (1) or Article 55-2, paragraph (3) of this Act (including its 
mutatis mutandis application under Article 60-2, paragraph (2))), the 
trademark has become well known among consumers as that indicating goods 
or services pertaining to the business of the person, the person has the right to 
use the trademark in connection with the goods or services as far as that person 
continuously uses the trademark for the goods or services. The same applies to 
those by whom the 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 that person and 
those of its own. 
 
Article 32-2 (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 
that other person's application for trademark registration of that regionally-
based collective trademark, has the right to use the trademark in connection 
with the goods or services as far as those person continuously uses the 
trademark in connection with the goods or services. The same applies to those 
who succeeded to the relevant business. 
(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 that person and those of its own or its members. 
 
(Right to Use Trademarks Arising from Use Prior to Registration of a Request for 
an Invalidation Trial) 
Article 33 (1) Where, prior to the registration of a request for a trial provided for 
in Article 46, paragraph (1), a person falling under any of the following items 
has been using a registered trademark or a trademark similar thereto in Japan 
in connection with the designated goods or designated services or goods or 
services similar thereto without the knowledge that trademark registration 
falls under any of the items of those paragraph, and that trademark has become 
well known among consumers as that indicating goods or services pertaining to 
its business, the person has the right to use the trademark in connection with 
the goods or services as far as that person continuously uses the trademark for 
the goods or services; the same applies to those by whom the relevant business 
is succeeded: 
(i) the original holder of a 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 a trademark right, where the trademark registration 
has been invalidated and a trademark identical with, or similar to, the 
trademark to be used in connection with identical or similar designated goods 
or designated services is registered for the person who is entitled to the 
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, paragraph (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 non-exclusive right to 
use which is effective regarding the trademark right or the exclusive right to 
use under Article 31, paragraph (4) of this Act.  
 
(2) The holder of trademark right or of exclusive right to use is entitled to receive 
reasonable compensation from the person who has the right to use the 
trademark pursuant to the preceding paragraph. 
(3) The provisions of Article 32, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis to 
paragraph (1). 
 
(Right to Use a Trademark after Expiration of the Term of Patent Rights) 
Article 33-2 (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 term of that patent right, the original 
patent right holder has 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 
the trademark is not used for the purpose of unfair competition. 
(2) The provisions of Article 32, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis to the 
preceding paragraph. 
(3) The preceding two paragraphs 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 utility model right or design right. 
 
Article 33-3 (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 term of that patent right, the person who, 
at the time of expiration of the patent right, has the exclusive license to work 
the patent right, or a non-exclusive license to work which is effective on the 
patent right or on the exclusive license to work, has 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 the trademark is not used for 
the purpose of unfair competition. 
(2) The provisions of Articles 32, paragraph (2) and Article 33, paragraph (2) 
apply mutatis mutandis to the preceding paragraph. 
(3) The preceding two paragraphs 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 utility model right or design right. 
 
(Pledges) 
Article 34 (1) Where a pledge is established on a trademark right, an exclusive 
right to use or non-exclusive 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, extinction or restriction on 
disposition of a pledge on a non-exclusive right to use has no effect on any third 
party without registration. 
(3) The provisions of Article 96 (subrogation) of the Patent Act apply mutatis 
mutandis to pledges on a trademark right, exclusive right to use or non-
exclusive right to use. 
(4) The provisions of Article 98, (1)(iii) and (2) (effects of registration) of the 
Patent Act apply mutatis mutandis to pledges on a non-exclusive right to use. 
 
(Waiver of Trademark Right) 
Article 34-2 If there is a holder of exclusive right, a pledgee or holder of non-
exclusive right, the holder of trademark right may waive the trademark right 
only with the consent of those persons. 
 
(Mutatis Mutandis Application of the Patent Act) 
Article 35 The provisions of Article 73 (Co-ownership), Article 76 (Lapse of patent 
rights in absence of heir), and Article 98, paragraph (1),item (i) and Article 98, 
paragraph (2) (Effect of registration) of the Patent Act apply mutatis mutandis 
to trademark rights. In this case, the term "transfer (excluding those by general 
succession including inheritance)" in Article 98, paragraph (1), item (i) of the 
Patent Act is deemed to be replaced with "division and transfer (excluding those 
by general succession including inheritance)." 
 
Section 2 Infringement of Rights 
 
(Right to Demand an 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 suspend or prevent the infringement. 
(2) In making the 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 the 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 are 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 packaging; 
(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 those services, for the 
purpose of the provision of those services through use of those 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 those services, for the purpose of 
causing the provision of those services through use of those products; 
(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 the Amount of Damage) 
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 constitute 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 total of the amounts 
provided in each of the following items. 
(i)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 portion not exceeding the quantity (if there are 
circumstances due to which the holder of trademark right or of exclusive right 
to use would have been unable to sell the quantity of goods equivalent to all or 
part of the portion, the quantity due to such circumstances (referred to as 
specified quantity in the same item) shall be deducted) proportionate to the 
ability of the holder of trademark right or of exclusive right to use to work the 
goods (referred to as usage equivalent quantity in the same item) within the 
quantity of goods assigned by the infringer who has committed the 
infringement of the trademark right or of the exclusive right to use (referred to 
in the next item as assigned quantity) ; 
(ii) the amount equivalent to the amount of money to be received for the use of 
the registered trademark relating to the trademark right or exclusive right to 
use according to the quantity in the case where there is a quantity that exceeds 
the usage quantity within the assigned quantity, or a specified quantity (except 
in the case where it is not recognized that the holder of trademark right or of 
exclusive right to use would have been able to establish the exclusive right to 
use or grant a non-exclusive right to use on the trademark right of the holder 
of trademark right or grant a non-exclusive right to use on the exclusive right 
to use of the holder of exclusive right to use) .) 
(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 of infringement, the amount of 
profits earned by the infringer is 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 an 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 a trademark right or of an exclusive right 
to use would have been entitled to receive for the use of the registered  
 
trademark as the amount of damage sustained. 
(4) When a court determines the amount equivalent to the amount of money to be 
received for the use of the registered trademark provided in paragraph (1) item 
(ii) and the preceding paragraph, the court may take into consideration 
compensation which the holder of trademark right or of exclusive right to use 
would obtain if the holder of trademark right or exclusive right to use agreed 
on the compensation of the use of the registered trademark relating to the 
trademark right or the exclusive right to use with the infringer on the premise 
that the trademark right or exclusive right to use had been infringed. 
(5) 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 infringement has been committed by using a registered trademark 
(including a trademark deemed identical from a 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 he registered trademark in terms of pronunciation and concept, and a 
trademark consisting of figures that are considered identical in terms of 
appearance with those of the registered trademark; the same shall apply in 
Article 50) in connection with the designated goods or designated services, the 
amount of damage sustained by the holder of trademark right or of exclusive 
right to use may be presumed to be the amount equivalent to the expenses 
normally required for the acquisition and maintenance of the trademark right. 
(6) Paragraph (3) and 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. 
 
(Limits on Assertions) 
Article 38-2 Where the following appeal 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 13-2, paragraph (1) (including cases where it 
is applied mutatis mutandis in Article 68, paragraph (1)) has become final and 
binding, a person who was a party of that litigation may not claim that the 
appeal decisions or rulings have become final and binding in the appeal for 
retrial against those final judgments (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 that 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 that litigation is the case): 
(i) appeal decision to the effect that the trademark registration is to be 
invalidated; or 
(ii) a ruling to the effect that the trademark registration is to be rescinded. 
 
(Mutatis Mutandis Application of the Patent Act) 
Article 39 The provisions of Article, 103 (Presumption of negligence), Article 104-
2 (Obligation to clarify the specific condition); Article 104-3, paragraphs (1) and 
(2) (Restriction on exercise of rights of patentee, etc.), Articles 105(Production 
of documents, etc.), 105-2-12 to 105-6(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 
Article 106 (Measures to restore credibility) of the Patent Act apply mutatis 
mutandis to the infringement of a trademark right and an exclusive right to 
use. 
 
Section 3 Registration Fees 
 
(Registration Fees) 
Article 40 (1) A person obtaining the registration of establishment of a trademark 
right must pay, as a registration fee for each trademark registration the 
amount specified by Cabinet Order not exceeding 32,900 yen, multiplied by the 
number of classes (referring to classes of goods and services provided by 
Cabinet Order provided for in Article 6, paragraph (2), to which the designated 
goods or designated services belong; the same applies hereinafter). 
(2) A person filing a request for the registration of renewal of a trademark right 
pay, as a registration fee for each trademark registration the amount specified 
by Cabinet Order not exceeding 43,600 yen, multiplied by the number of classes 
of goods or services. 
(3) The preceding two paragraphs do not apply to trademark rights belonging to 
the national government. 
(4) When a trademark right is jointly owned by the national government and a 
person or persons other than the national government, and the portion of their 
respective shares of that trademark right has been agreed, notwithstanding 
paragraphs (1) and (2), the registration fee provided for in those paragraphs is 
to be the amount of the registration fee provided in those paragraphs multiplied 
by the total ratio of the share of each person other than the national  
 
government, which must be paid by the person or persons other than the 
national government. 
(5) Registration fees calculated pursuant to the preceding paragraph are to be 
rounded down to the nearest ten yen. 
(6) The registration fee provided for in paragraphs (1) and (2) must be paid by 
patent revenue stamps as provided by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade 
and Industry; provided, however, that the payment may be made in cash if 
permitted under the Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. 
 
(Time Limit For Payment of Registration Fees) 
Article 41 (1) The registration fee under Article 40, paragraph (1) must be paid 
within 30 days from the service of a transcript of an examiner's decision or a 
trial or appeal 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) When a person required to pay the registration fee is unable to pay the 
registration fee within the time limit under paragraph (1) (when the time limit 
under the preceding paragraph is extended, the extended time limit), that 
person may, in accordance with an Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade 
and Industry, pay the registration fee only within the time limit as provided by 
Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, even after the 
expiration of the time limit. 
(4) When, 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, 
that person may, notwithstanding the provisions of that paragraph, pay the 
registration fee within 14 days (two months for overseas residents) from the 
date on which the reasons for not paying ceased to be applicable, but not later 
than six months after the expiration of that time limit. 
(5) The registration fee under Article 40, paragraph (2) must be paid at the time 
of filing of an application for registration of renewal. 
 
(Payment of Registration Fees by Installments) 
Article 41-2 (1) Notwithstanding Article 40, paragraph (1), a person obtaining a 
registration of establishment of a trademark right may pay the prescribed 
registration fee by installments. In this case, that person must pay the amount 
specified by Cabinet Order not exceeding 19,100 yen, multiplied by the number 
of classes of goods or services for each trademark registration within 30 days 
from the service of a transcript of an examiner's decision or trial or appeal 
decision to the effect that a trademark is to be registered, and an additional  
 
must also pay the amount specified by Cabinet Order not exceeding 19,100 yen, 
multiplied by the number of classes of goods or services for each trademark 
registration no later than five years prior to the expiration 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 trial 
or appeal decision to the effect that a trademark is to be registered has been 
made under the preceding paragraph (hereinafter, referred to as "an earlier-
installation registration fee"), the Commissioner of the Patent Office may 
extend the time limit as provided in that paragraph by a period not exceeding 
30 days. 
(3) Where a person required to pay an earlier-installment registration fee is 
unable to pay the fee within the time limit during which that person is required 
to pay the fee (where the time limit under the preceding paragraph is extended, 
within the extended time limit), that person may, in accordance with an Order 
of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, pay the earlier-installment 
registration fee only within the time limit as provided by Order 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 
earlier-installment registration fee, the person is unable to pay the earlier-
installment registration fee within the time limit for as provided in the 
preceding paragraph, that person may, notwithstanding the provisions of that 
paragraph, pay the registration fee within 14 days (two months for a overseas 
residents) 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 that 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 trademark right under paragraph 
(1) (hereinafter referred to as "a second-installment registration fee") is unable 
to pay the second-installment registration fee within the time limit during 
which that person is required to pay the fee, the person may make a late 
payment of the second-installment registration fee even after the expiration of 
this time limit, but not later than 6 months following the expiration of that 
time limit. 
(6) Where the second-installment registration fee and the registration surcharge 
payable under Article 43, paragraph (3) have not been paid within the time 
limit for late payment of the second-installment registration fee under the 
preceding paragraph, the trademark right is deemed to have been expired 
retroactively upon the day which is five years prior to the expiration of the 
trademark right. 
(7) Notwithstanding Article 40, paragraph (2), a person filing an application for  
 
the registration of renewal of a trademark right may pay the prescribed 
registration fee by installments. In this case, that person must pay the amount 
specified by Cabinet Order not exceeding 25,400, multiplied by the number of 
classes of goods or services for each trademark registration at the time of filing 
of the request for the registration of renewal, and must also pay the amount 
specified by Cabinet Order not exceeding 25,400 yen, multiplied by the number 
of classes of goods or services for each trademark registration no later than five 
years prior to the expiration of the trademark right. 
(8) The provisions of paragraphs (5) and (6) 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 trademark right under the preceding paragraph, 
is made. In this case, the term "paragraph (1)" in paragraph (5) is deemed to be 
replaced with "paragraph (7)". 
(9) The provisions of Article 40, paragraphs (3) through (5) apply mutatis 
mutandis to paragraphs (1) and (7). 
 
(Restoration of a Trademark Right by Late Payment of a Second-Installment 
Registration Fee) 
Article 41-3 (1) Where the original holder of a trademark right which was deemed 
to have been expired pursuant to Article 41-2, paragraph (6) has justifiable 
reasons for having been unable to pay the second-installment registration fee 
and the registration surcharge under Article 43, paragraph (3) within the time 
limit for late payment of the second-installment registration fee as provided in 
the paragraph (5) of that Article, that original holder may make a late payment 
for the second-installment registration fee and registration surcharge only 
within the time limit provided by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and 
Industry. 
(2) Where a late payment of the second-installment registration fee and the 
registration surcharge under Article 43, paragraph (3) is made under the 
preceding paragraph, the trademark right is deemed to have been existed 
retroactively since the day preceding the five years prior to the expiration. 
(3) The provisions of the preceding two paragraphs apply mutatis mutandis where 
late payment of the registration fee to be paid not later than five years prior 
to the expiration of the trademark right and the registration surcharge under 
Article 43, paragraph (3) are made under paragraph (7) of the preceding Article. 
 
(Limitations of Effects of Trademark Rights Restored by Late Payments of 
Second-Installment Registration Fees) 
Article 41-4 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  
 
second-installment 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 41-2, paragraph (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 Article 37. 
(2) The provisions of the preceding paragraph 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 Fees by Interested Persons) 
Article 41-5 (1) Any interested person may make payment of the registration fee 
(excluding the registration fee due and payable at the time of filing of an 
application for registration of renewal) even against the intention of the person 
by whom that 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 that fee was to have been paid, to the extent 
that person receives actual benefits therefrom. 
 
(Refunding Registration Fees 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 trademark right under Article 41-2, paragraph (1) or 41-2, 
paragraph (7) (limited to the case where a ruling to cancel under Article 43-
3, paragraph (2) or a 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 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 ruling to cancel under 
Article 43-3, paragraph (2) or, a trial or appeal 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), that person may, notwithstanding that  
 
paragraph, file the request within 14 days (two months for overseas residents) 
from the date on which the reasons for not filing ceased to be applicable, but 
not later than six months after the expiration of that time limit. 
 
(Registration Surcharge) 
Article 43 (1) A person filing an application for registration of renewal under 
Article 20, paragraph (3) or Article 21, paragraph (1) must pay, beyond the 
registration fee due and payable under Article 40, paragraph (2), a surcharge 
in an amount equivalent to the registration fee; provided, however, that if the 
person filing an application for registration of renewal is unable to pay the 
registration fee within the time limit provided in Article 20, paragraph (2) due 
to reasons beyond the person's control, the person is not required to pay the 
registration surcharge. 
(2) Where Article 41-2, paragraph (7) is applicable, a person filing an application 
provided in the preceding paragraph must pay, beyond the registration fee due 
and payable at the time of filing of the application for registration of renewal 
under Article 41-2, paragraph (7), a surcharge in an amount equivalent to the 
registration fee; provided, however, that if the person is unable to pay the 
registration fee within the time limit provided in Article 20, paragraph (2) due 
to reasons beyond the person's control, the person is not required to pay the 
registration surcharge. 
(3) Where Article 41-2, paragraph (5) (including cases where it is applied mutatis 
mutandis pursuant to paragraph (8) of the same Article; hereinafter the same 
applies in this paragraph) is applicable, the holder of trademark right must pay, 
beyond the registration fee due and payable no later than five years prior to 
the expiration of the trademark right under paragraph (1) or (7) of the same 
Article, a surcharge in an amount equivalent to the registration fee; provided, 
however, that if the holder of trademark right is unable to pay the second-
installment registration fee provided in Article 41-2, paragraph (5) within the 
time limit during which that holder of trademark right is required to pay the 
second-installment registration fee, due to reasons beyond the person's control, 
the holder of trademark right is not required to pay the registration surcharge. 
(4) The surcharges under the preceding three paragraphs must be paid by patent 
revenue stamps as provided by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and 
Industry; provided, however, that the payment may be made in cash, if 
permitted by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. 
 
Chapter IV-2 Opposition to Registration 
 
(Opposition to Registration) 
Article 43-2 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, 
Article 4, paragraph (1), Article 7-2, paragraph (1), Article 8, paragraphs (1), 
(2) and (5), Article 51, paragraph (2) (including its mutatis mutandis 
application under Article 52-2, paragraph (2)), Article 53, paragraph (2) of 
this Act or Article 25 of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis under 
Article 77, paragraph (3) of this Act; and 
(ii) where the trademark registration has been made in violation of a treaty; or 
(iii) where the trademark registration has been made for an application for 
trademark registration not satisfying the requirements under Article 5, 
paragraph (5). 
 
(Rulings) 
Article 43-3 (1) Examination proceedings and ruling on opposition to registration 
is to 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 43-2, the 
administrative judges must render a ruling to the effect that the trademark 
registration is to be rescinded (hereinafter referred to as a "ruling to cancel"). 
(3) Where the ruling to cancel becomes final and binding, the relevant trademark 
right is 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 
43-2, the administrative judges must render a ruling to the effect that the 
trademark registration is to be maintained. 
(5) The ruling under the preceding paragraph does not be subject to appeal. 
 
(Formal Requirements for Filing an Opposition) 
Article 43-4 (1) A person filing an opposition to registration of a trademark must 
submit to the Commissioner of the Patent Office a written opposition stating 
the following particulars: 
(i) the name and the domicile or residence of the opponent to the registration 
and a representative 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 does not change the outline thereof; provided, however, 
that these provisions do not apply to any amendment with respect to the 
particulars provided for in item (iii) of the preceding paragraph no later than 
thirty days from the lapse of the term provided in Article 43-2. 
(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 must send a copy of the written opposition to 
the holder of trademark right. 
(5) The provisions of Article 46, paragraph (4) apply mutatis mutandis to the case 
where an opposition to registration is filed. 
 
(Designation of Administrative Judges) 
Article 43-5 The provisions of Articles 136, paragraph (2) and Articles 137 
through 144 of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 56, 
paragraph (1) of this Act apply mutatis mutandis to the panel under Article 43-
3, paragraph (1) and the administrative judges constituting thereof. 
 
(Trial Clerks) 
Article 43-5-2 The Commissioner of the Patent Office must designate a trial clerk 
for each case of opposition to registration. 
(2) The provisions of Article 144-2, paragraphs (3) through (5) of the Patent Act 
as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 56 paragraph (1) of this Act apply 
mutatis mutandis to the trial clerk provided for in the preceding paragraph. 
 
(Procedure in Examination Proceedings) 
Article 43-6 (1) Examination proceedings of opposition to registration are to be 
conducted by documentary examination; provided, however, that the chief 
administrative judge may decide to conduct oral proceedings if a petition is filed 
by the holder of trademark right, the opponent, an intervenor or ex officio. 
(2) The provisions of Articles 145, paragraphs (3) through (7), Articles 146 and 
147 of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 56, paragraph 
(1) of this Act apply mutatis mutandis to oral proceedings provided for in the 
proviso to the preceding paragraph. 
(3) Where any grounds for suspension or termination of examination proceedings 
is applicable to one of the joint holders of trademark rights for examination 
proceedings and ruling on an opposition to registration, that suspension or 
termination has effect on all such joint holders of trademark rights. 
  
 
(Intervention) 
Article 43-7 (1) In examination proceedings 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 proceedings in order to assist the holder of trademark right 
until the ruling on opposition to registration is rendered. 
(2) Articles 148, paragraphs (4) and (5) and Article 149 of the Patent Act as 
applied mutatis mutandis under Article 56, paragraph (1) of this Act apply 
mutatis mutandis to the intervenor provided in the preceding paragraph. 
 
(Examination of and Preservation of Evidence) 
Article 43-8 The provisions of Articles 150 and 151 of the Patent Act as applied 
mutatis mutandis under Article 56, paragraph (1) of this Act apply mutatis 
mutandis to the examination of and preservation of evidence in the 
examination proceedings of opposition to registration. 
 
(Ex Officio Examinations) 
Article 43-9 (1) In examination proceedings 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 examination proceedings of an opposition to registration, no examination 
may be conducted on any designated goods or designated services for which the 
opposition to registration is not raised. 
 
(Joint or Separate Filing of Opposition) 
Article 43-10 (1) Where two or more oppositions to registration are filed in 
relation to the same trademark right, unless special circumstances exist, the 
examination proceedings thereof are to be conducted jointly. 
(2) Examination proceedings conducted jointly in accordance with the preceding 
paragraph may later be divided. 
 
(Withdrawal of Opposition) 
Article 43-11 (1) An opposition to registration, once filed, may not be withdrawn 
after the notification under Article 43-12 is served. 
(2) The provisions of Article 155, paragraph (3) of the Patent Act as applied 
mutatis mutandis under Article 56, paragraph (2) of this Act apply mutatis 
mutandis to the withdrawal of an opposition to registration. 
 
(Notification of Reasons for Cancel) 
Article 43-12 Where the chief administrative judge intends to render a ruling to 
cancel, the chief administrative judge must notify the holder of trademark right  
 
and the intervenor of the reasons for cancel of the trademark registration and 
give those parties an opportunity to submit a written opinion, designating a 
reasonable time limit. 
 
(Formal Requirements of Rulings) 
Article 43-13 (1) A ruling on an opposition to registration must be rendered in 
writing stating the following particulars: 
(i) the case number of the opposition to registration; 
(ii) the name and the domicile or residence of the holder of the trademark right, 
the opponent, the intervenor and their representatives; 
(iii) an indication of the trademark registration on which the ruling was 
rendered; 
(iv) the conclusions of and reasons for the ruling; and 
(v) the date of the ruling. 
(2) Where a ruling has been rendered, the Commissioner of the Patent Office must 
serve a transcript of the ruling to the holder of trademark right, the opponent, 
the intervenor and persons whose request for intervention in the examination 
proceedings on the opposition to registration has been refused. 
 
(Scope of Final and Binding Rulings) 
Article 43-14 A ruling with regard to an opposition to registration become final 
and binding for each case of opposition to registration; provided, however, that 
the ruling with regard to an opposition to registration filed against the 
designated goods or designated services becomes final and binding for each of 
the designated goods or services. 
 
(Mutatis Mutandis Application of Provisions Concerning Trials and Appeals) 
Article 43-15 (1) The provisions of Article 133, Article 133-2, Article 134, 
paragraph (4), Article 135, Article 152, Article 168, Article 169, paragraphs (3) 
through (6) and Article 170 of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis 
under Article 56, paragraph (1) of this Act apply mutatis mutandis to 
examination proceedings and rulings on oppositions to registration. 
(2) The provisions of Article 43-3, paragraph (5) of this Act apply mutatis 
mutandis to a ruling under Article 135 of the Patent Act as applied mutatis 
mutandis under the preceding paragraph. 
 
Chapter V Trials and Appeals 
 
(Appeals Against Decisions of Refusal) 
Article 44 (1) A person who has received an examiner's decision to the effect that 
an application is refused, and is dissatisfied with that decision, 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, that 
person may, notwithstanding that paragraph, file the request within 14 days 
(two months for overseas residents) from the date on which the reasons for not 
filing ceased to be applicable, but not later than six months after the expiration 
of that time limit. 
 
(Appeals Against Dismissal of Request for Amendments) 
Article 45 (1) Any person who has received a ruling of dismissal of amendments 
under Article 16-2, paragraph (1) and is dissatisfied may file a request for 
appeal against the ruling within three months from the date the transcript of 
the ruling has been served; provided, however, that these provisions do not 
apply where a new application for trademark registration provided in Article 
17-3, paragraph (1) of the Design Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to 
Article 17-2, paragraph (1) of this Act is filed. 
(2) The provisions of Article 44, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis to a 
request for appeal under the preceding paragraph. 
 
(Trials on the Invalidation of Trademark Registration) 
Article 46 (1) Where a trademark registration falls under any of the following 
items, a request for a trial on the invalidation 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, 
Article 4, paragraph (1), Article 7-2, paragraph (1), Article 8, paragraphs (1), 
(2), and (5), Article 51, paragraph (2) (including cases where it is applied 
mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 52-2, paragraph (2)), Article 53, 
paragraph (2) of this Act or Article 25 of the Patent Act as applied mutatis 
mutandis pursuant to Article 77, paragraph (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, 
paragraph (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, paragraph 
(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, paragraph (1), item (i) 
through 4, paragraph (1),item (iii), 4, paragraph (1), item (v), 4, paragraph 
(1), item (vii) and 4, paragraph (1), item (xvi); or 
(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 7-2, paragraph (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 extinction 
of the trademark right. 
(4) Where a request for a trial is filed under paragraph (1), the chief 
administrative judge shall notify the holder of exclusive right to use the 
trademark right relating thereto or any other person who holds any right 
registered with regard to the trademark registration, of the fact. 
 
Article 46-2 (1) Where a trial decision to the effect that the trademark 
registration is to be invalidated becomes final and binding, the trademark right 
is deemed never to have existed; provided, however, that where the trademark 
registration falls under any of items (v) through (vii) of Article 46, paragraph 
(1) and a trial decision to the effect that the trademark registration is to be 
invalidated becomes final and binding, the trademark right is deemed not to 
have existed from the time any of items (v) through (vii) of that 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) through (vii) of Article 46, paragraph (1) first became applicable 
to the trademark registration cannot be specified, the trademark right is 
deemed not to have existed from the date of registration of the request for 
invalidation trial of that trademark registration. 
 
Article 47 (1) Where a trademark registration has been made in violation of 
Article 3, 4, paragraph (1), item (viii),Article 4, paragraph (1), items (xi) 
through (xiv),Article 8, paragraph (1), (2) or (5), where a trademark registration 
has been made in violation of Article 4, paragraph (1), item (x) or (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 that paragraph (excluding the case where a trademark has been 
registered for unfair purposes), or where a trademark registration falls under 
Article 46, paragraph (1), item (iv), a request for a trial relating to the 
trademark registration under Article 46 , paragraph (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 7-2, 
paragraph (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, paragraph (1) may not be filed. 
 
Article 48 and Article 49 Deleted 
 
(Trials for Rescission of Trademark Registration) 
Article 50(1) Where a registered trademark 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 non-exclusive right to use, any person may file a request for a trial for 
rescission of the trademark registration in connection with the relevant 
designated goods or designated services. 
(2) Where a request for a trial under the preceding paragraph is filed, unless the 
demandee proves that any of the holders of trademark rights, exclusive rights 
to use or non-exclusive rights 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 does not 
apply where the demandee shows just causes for non-use 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 rights, exclusive rights to use 
or non-exclusive rights 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 request for a trial would be filed, the use of the registered trademark does 
not fall under the use of the registered trademark provided in paragraph (1); 
provided, however, that this does not apply to cases where the demandee shows 
just cause 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 can be confused with the goods or services pertaining to 
business of another person, any person may file a request for a trial for cancel 
of the trademark registration. 
(2) The previous holder of a 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 canceled, 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 canceled under the preceding paragraph 
becomes final and binding. 
 
Article 52 A request for a trial under Article 51, paragraph (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 manner provided in that paragraph. 
 
Article 52-2 (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 can be confused with the goods or services pertaining to the 
business of the holder of trademark right, exclusive right to use or non-
exclusive right to use of the other registered trademark, any person may file a 
request for a trial for cancellation of the trademark registration.  
 
(2) The provisions of Articles 51, paragraph (2) and Article 52 apply mutatis 
mutandis to a trial under the preceding paragraph. 
 
Article 53 (1) Where a holder of an exclusive right to use or a non-exclusive 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 can be confused with the goods or services pertaining to 
business of another person, any person may file a request for a trial for 
rescission of the trademark registration; provided, however, that this does not 
apply to cases where the holder of trademark right was not aware of the fact 
and exercised due care. 
(2) The previous holder of trademark right, exclusive right to use or non-exclusive 
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 canceled under the preceding paragraph becomes final and 
binding. 
(3) The provisions of Article 52 apply mutatis mutandis to a trial under paragraph 
(1). 
 
Article 53-2 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 party 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 those 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 just cause, by their agent or representative or by their 
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 for a trial for rescission of the trademark 
registration. 
 
Article 53-3 A request for a trial under Article 53-2 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 canceled becomes final and binding, the trademark right is expired 
thereafter. 
(2) Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, where a trial decision to the effect 
that the trademark registration is to be canceled becomes final and binding by 
a trial under Article 50, paragraph (1), the trademark right is deemed to have 
become expired on the date of registration of the request for a trial under that 
paragraph. 
 
Article 55 The provisions of Article 46 (4) apply mutatis mutandis to the case 
where a request for a trial is filed under Article 50, paragraph (1), 51, 
paragraph (1), Article 52-2, paragraph (1), Article 53, paragraph (1) or Article 
53-2. 
 
(Special Provisions on Appeals Against Examiner Decisions of Refusal) 
Article 55-2 (1) The provisions of Article 15-2 and Article 15-3 apply mutatis 
mutandis to cases where reasons for refusal that are different from those 
contained in the examiner's decision are found in the appeal under Article 44, 
paragraph (1). 
(2) The provisions of Article 16 apply mutatis mutandis where a request for 
appeal under Article 44, paragraph (1) is found to have reasonable grounds; 
provided, however, that these provisions do not apply where a decision on an 
appeal to the effect that further examination proceedings are to be carried out 
under Article 160, paragraph (1) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis 
pursuant to Article 56, paragraph (1) of this Act is rendered. 
(3) The provisions of Article 16-2 of this Act and Article 17-3 of the Design Act 
apply mutatis mutandis to appeals under Article 44, paragraph (1) of this Act. 
In this case, the term "three months" in Article 16-2, paragraph (3) of this Act 
and Article 17-3, paragraph (1) of the Design Act is deemed to be replaced with 
"thirty days" and the term "files a request for an appeal under Article 45, 
paragraph (1)" in Article 16-2, paragraph (4) is deemed to be replaced with 
"institutes an action under Article 63, paragraph (1)." 
 
(Scope of Final and Binding Trial or Appeal Decisions) 
Article 55-3 Trial and appeal decision become final and binding for each trial or 
appeal case; provided, however, that the trial decision of a request for trial 
under Article 46, paragraph (1) of this Act filed for each designated goods or 
designated services is 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, paragraph (1), Article 131-2, 
paragraph (1)(excluding items (ii) and (iii)), Articles 132 through 133-2, Article 
134, paragraphs (1), (3),and (4), Articles 135 through 154, Article 155, 
paragraphs (1), and (2), Article 156, paragraphs (1), (3) and (4), Article 157, 
Article 158, Article 160, paragraphs (1), and (2), Article 161, Article 167, 
Articles 168 through 170 (effect of trial or appeal decisions, requests for trial 
or appeals, administrative judge, trial or appeal procedures in relation to 
litigation, and costs of trials or appeals) of the Patent Act apply mutatis 
mutandis to trial or appeals. 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 trials or appeals other than invalidation trial, or in the event 
that approval is granted by the chief administrative judge under the following 
paragraph" in Article 131-2, paragraph (1) of the Patent Act is deemed to be 
replaced with "ground for the request as provided in Article 131, paragraph 
(1),item (iii) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 
56, paragraph (1) of this Act in the course of filing a request for trials and 
appeals other than trials under Article 46, paragraph (1) of the Trademark Act" , 
the term "invalidation trial or invalidation trial of the registration of extension 
of term" in Articles 132, paragraph (1) and 167 of the Patent Act and the term 
"invalidation trial and an invalidation trial of the registration of extension of 
term" in Articles 145, paragraph (1) and 169, paragraph (1) of the Patent Act 
is deemed to be replaced with "trials under Article 46, paragraph (1), 50, 
paragraph (1), 51, paragraph (1), 52-2, paragraph (1), 53, paragraph (1) or 53-
2 of the Trademark Act", the term ", in trials and appeals other than 
invalidation trial, notify" in Article 156, paragraph (1) of the Patent Act is 
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, paragraph 
(3) of the Patent Act is deemed to be replaced with "appeals under Article 44, 
paragraph (1) or 45, paragraph (1) of the Trademark Act". 
(2) The provisions of Article 155, paragraph (3) (withdrawal of a request for trial 
or appeal) of the Patent Act apply mutatis mutandis to a trial under Article 46, 
paragraph (1) of this Act. 
 
(Mutatis Mutandis Application of the Design Act) 
Article 56-2 The provisions of Article 51 of the Design Act apply mutatis mutandis 
to an appeal under Article 45, paragraph (1) of this Act. 
 
Chapter VI Retrial and Litigation 
  
 
(Request for a Retrial) 
Article 57 (1) A party or intervener in a case may file a request for a retrial 
against a final and binding ruling to cancel or a final and binding decision on 
appeal. 
(2) The provisions of Article 338, paragraphs (1) and (2), and Article 339 (grounds 
for retrial) of the Code of Civil Procedure (Act No. 109 of 1996) apply mutatis 
mutandis to a request for retrial under the preceding paragraph. 
 
Article 58 (1) Where the demandant of trials and appeals in conspiracy with the 
demandee has had trial or appeal decision 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 trial or appeal decisions. 
(2) A request for a retrial under the preceding paragraph must be filed against 
the demandant and the demandee in the appeals as joint demandees. 
 
(Limitations of Effects of Trademark Rights 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 has 
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 ruling to cancel or 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 ruling to cancel or 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 trial decision has been registered through a 
retrial, and where a person, after the ruling to cancel or 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, the 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 has the right to use the trademark in 
connection with the goods or services as far as those person continuously uses 
the trademark for the goods or services. The same applies to those by whom the  
 
business is succeeded. 
(2) The provisions of Article 32, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis to the 
preceding paragraph. 
 
(Mutatis Mutandis Application of Provisions Concerning Trials and Appeals) 
Article 60-2 (1) The provisions of Article 43-3, Articles 43-5 through 43-9 and 
Articles 43-12 through 43-15 of this Act, Article 131, paragraph (1), the main 
clause of Article 131-2, paragraph (1), Article 132, paragraph (3), Article 154, 
Article 155, paragraph (1) and Article 156, paragraphs (1),, (3), and (4) of the 
Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 56, paragraph (1) 
of this Act, and Article 155, paragraph (3) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis 
mutandis pursuant to Article 56, paragraph (2) of this Act apply mutatis 
mutandis to a retrial against a final and binding ruling to cancel. 
(2) The provisions of Article 55-2 and Article 55-3 apply mutatis mutandis to a 
retrial against a final and binding decision on appeal on appeals under Article 
44, paragraph (1). 
(3) The provisions of Article 55-3 and Article 56-2 apply mutatis mutandis to a 
retrial against a final and binding decision on appeal on appeals under Article 
45, paragraph (1). 
(4) The provisions of Article 55-3 apply mutatis mutandis to a retrial against a 
final and binding trial decision on trials under Article 46, paragraph (1), Article 
50, paragraph (1), Article 51, paragraph (1), Article 52-2, paragraph (1), Article 
53, paragraph (1) or Article 53-2. 
 
(Mutatis Mutandis Application of the Patent Act) 
Article 61 The provisions of Article 173 (Time limit for request for retrial) and 
Article 174, paragraph (3) and Article 174, paragraph (5) (Application mutatis 
mutandis of provisions regarding trials) of the Patent Act apply mutatis 
mutandis to a request for a retrial. In this case, the term "Articles 167 through 
168" in paragraph (3) of those Article is deemed to be replaced with "Article 
167, Article 168", the term "invalidation trial or invalidation trial of the 
registration of extension " in Article 174, paragraph (2) of the Patent Act is 
deemed to be replaced with "trials and appeals under Article 46, paragraph (1), 
Article 50, paragraph (1), Article 51, paragraph (1), Article 52-2, paragraph (1), 
Article 53, paragraph, (1) or Article 53-2 of the Trademark Act". 
 
(Mutatis Mutandis Application of the Design Act) 
Article 62 (1) The provisions of Article 58, paragraph (2) (mutatis mutandis 
application of provisions concerning appeals) of the Design Act apply mutatis 
mutandis to a retrial against a final and binding decision on appeal on appeals 
under Article 44, paragraph (1) of this Act. In this case, the term "the main  
 
clause of Article 167-2, Article 168" in Article 58, paragraph (2) of the Design 
Act is deemed to be replaced with "Article 168." 
(2) The provisions of Article 58, paragraph (3) of the Design Act applies mutatis 
mutandis to a retrial against a final and binding decision on appeal on appeals 
under Article 45, paragraph (1) of this Act. In this case, the term "the main 
clause of Article 167-2, Article 168" in Article 58, paragraph (3) of the Design 
Act is deemed to be replaced with "Article 168." 
 
(Actions against Trial or Appeal Decision) 
Article 63 (1) The Tokyo High Court has exclusive jurisdiction over any action 
against a ruling to cancel or trial or appeal decision, an action against a ruling 
to dismiss an amendment under Article 16-2, paragraph (1) as applied mutatis 
mutandis pursuant to Article 55-2, paragraph (3) (including cases where it is 
applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 60-2, paragraph (2)) and an 
action against a ruling to dismiss a written opposition or a written request for 
an trial or appeal, or retrial. 
(2) The provisions of Article 178, paragraphs (2) through (6) (time limit for 
institution of action, etc.), Articles 179 through 182 (appropriate party as 
defendant, notice of institution of action, opinion of the Commissioner of the 
Patent Office in an action for revocation of a trial or appeal decision, rescission 
of a trial or appeal decision or ruling and delivery of original copy, etc. of 
judgment) of the Patent Act 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 " in Article 179 of the Patent Act is deemed 
to be replaced with "trials under Article 46, paragraph (1), Article 50, 
paragraph (1), Article 51, paragraph (1), Article 52-2 paragraph, (1), Article 53, 
paragraph (1) or Article 53-2 of the Trademark Act." 
 
 
Chapter VII Defensive Trademarks 
 
(Requirements for Defensive Trademark 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 a trademark right, the holder of the 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 those 
other person's goods or services and the designated goods pertaining to their 
own business, 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 
those other person's services or goods and the designated services pertaining to 
their 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 "their own" in those 
paragraphs is deemed to be replaced with "its own or its members' ." 
 
(Conversion of Applications) 
Article 65 (1) An applicant for a trademark registration may convert an 
application for trademark registration into an application for a defensive mark 
registration. 
(2) The conversion of an application under the preceding paragraph may not be 
made after the examiner's decision or the trial or appeal decision on the 
application for trademark registration becomes final and binding. 
(3) The provisions of Article 10, paragraph (2) and, (3), Article and 11, paragraph 
(5) apply mutatis mutandis to the conversion of an application under paragraph 
(1). 
 
(Term of Rights based on Defensive Mark Registration) 
Article 65-2 (1) The term of a right based on defensive mark registration expires 
after ten years from the date of registration of the establishment of the right. 
(2) The term of a right based on defensive mark registration may be renewed by 
filing an application for registration of renewal; provided, however, that this 
does not apply to cases where the registered defensive mark becomes 
unregistrable as a defensive mark pursuant to Article 64. 
 
(Registration of Renewal of the Duration of a Right based on Defensive Mark 
Registration) 
Article 65-3 (1) A person filing an application for registration of renewal of a right 
based on a defensive mark registration must submit to the Commissioner of the  
 
Patent Office an application stating the following: 
(i) the name and the domicile or residence of the applicant; 
(ii) the registration number of the defensive mark registration; and 
(iii) beyond those listed in the preceding two items, particulars provided by 
Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. 
(2) An application for registration of renewal must be filed during the period from 
six months prior to the expiration 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 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 the application pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the person may file 
the application only within the time limit provided by Order of the Ministry of 
Economy, Trade and Industry. 
(4) Where an application for registration of renewal of a right based on defensive 
mark registration is filed, the term is deemed to have been renewed upon 
expiration (where an application is filed under the preceding paragraph, upon 
filing of the application); provided, however, that this does not apply to cases 
where the examiner's decision or trial or appeal decisions to the effect that the 
application is to be refused becomes final and binding or the renewal of a right 
based on defensive mark registration is registered. 
 
Article 65-4 (1) Where an application for registration of renewal of a right based 
on defensive mark registration falls under any of the following items, the 
examiner must 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 a right based on defensive mark registration, the 
examiner must render a decision to the effect that the renewal is to be 
registered. 
 
Article 65-5 The provisions of Articles 14 and 15-2 of this Act and Article 48 
(exclusion of examiners) and Article 52 (formal requirements for examination 
proceedings) of the Patent Act apply mutatis mutandis to examination 
proceedings of an application for registration of renewal of a right based on 
defensive mark registration. 
  
 
(Registration of Renewal of the Term of a Right based on Defensive Mark 
Registration) 
Article 65-6 (1) Where a registration fee under Article 65-7, paragraph (2) is paid, 
the renewal of the right based on defensive mark registration must be 
registered. 
(2) Upon registration under the preceding paragraph, the following particulars 
must 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 particulars beyond those listed in the preceding two items. 
 
(Registration Fees) 
Article 65-7 (1) A person obtaining a registration of establishment of a right based 
on defensive mark registration must pay, as a registration fee for each 
defensive mark registration, the amount specified by Cabinet Order not 
exceeding 32,900 yen multiplied by the number of classes of goods or services. 
(2) A person obtaining a registration of renewal of a right based on defensive 
mark registration must pay as a registration fee for each defensive mark 
registration, the amount specified by Cabinet Order not exceeding 37,500 yen 
multiplied by the number of classes of goods or services. 
(3) The provisions of Article 40, paragraphs (3) through (5) apply mutatis 
mutandis to the preceding two paragraphs. 
 
(Time Limit for the Payment of Registration Fees) 
Article 65-8 (1) A registration fee under Article 65-7, paragraph (1) must be paid 
within 30 days from the service of a transcript of the examiner's decision or 
trial or appeal decisions to the effect that a defensive mark is to be registered. 
(2) A registration fee under Article 65-7, paragraph (2) must be paid within 30 
days from the service of a transcript of the examiner's decision or the trial or 
appeal decisions to the effect that the renewal of the right based on defensive 
mark registration is to be registered (where the service is made prior to the 
expiration of the right based on defensive mark registration, the date of 
expiration). 
(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), that 
person may, in accordance with Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and  
 
Industry, pay that registration fee only within the time limit as provided by 
Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, even after the 
expiration of the time limit. 
(5) Where, due to reasons beyond their control, the person paying a registration 
fee is unable to pay the registration fee within the time limit provided in the 
preceding paragraph, that person may, notwithstanding that paragraph, pay 
the registration fee within 14 days (two months for overseas residents) from 
the date on which the reasons for not paying ceased to be applicable, but not 
later than six months after the expiration of that time limit. 
 
(Payment of Registration Fees by Interested Persons) 
Article 65-9 (1) Any interested person may make the payment of the registration 
fee under Article 65-7 (1) or (2) even against the intention of the person by 
whom that 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 who was to make that 
payment to reimburse the payment expenses to the extent that person receives 
actual benefits therefrom. 
 
(Refund of Registration Fees Paid in Excess or in Error) 
Article 65-10 (1) A registration fee under Article 65-7 (1) or (2) paid in excess or 
in error must 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 one year has passed since the date of payment. 
(3) Where a person making a request for a registration fee refund as prescribed 
in paragraph (1) is unable to make the request within the period prescribed in 
the preceding paragraph due to reasons beyond their control, that person may 
make a request within 14 days (within 2 months for overseas residents) from 
the date the reason beyond their control ceased to be applicable, but no later 
than 6 months after the aforementioned one-year period has passed, 
notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1). 
 
(Incidental Nature of Rights based on Defensive Mark Registration) 
Article 66 (1) A right based on a defensive mark registration is expired when the 
trademark right relating thereto is divided. 
(2) When a trademark right is transferred, the right based on defensive mark 
registration must be transferred with the trademark right relating thereto. 
(3) When a trademark right becomes expired, the right based on a defensive mark 
registration relating thereto is also expired. 
(4) Where a trademark right is deemed to have been expired under Article 20, 
paragraph (4), the effects of the right based on defensive mark registration  
 
pertaining to the trademark right restored under Article 21, paragraph (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, paragraph (3) 
but before the registration of renewal of the trademark right by an application 
under Article 21, paragraph (1). 
(5) Where a trademark right is deemed to have been extinguished under Article 
41-2 paragraph (6), the right based on defensive mark registration pertaining 
to the trademark right restored under Article 41-3 paragraph (2) is not 
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 second-
installment registration fee but before the registration to the effect that the 
trademark right is deemed to have been existed under Article 41-3,paragraph 
(2) is made, pursuant to Article 41-2, paragraph(5). 
(6) The provisions of the preceding paragraph apply mutatis mutandis to the 
effects of the right based on defensive mark registration pertaining to the 
trademark right restored under Article 41-3, paragraph (2) as applied mutatis 
mutandis pursuant to Article 41-3, paragraph (3). 
 
(Acts Deemed to Constitute Infringement) 
Article 67 The following acts are 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 a registered defensive mark on those goods or 
their packaging; 
(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 those services, for the purpose of the provision of those 
services through use of those 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 those services, for the purpose of causing the provision of those 
services through use of those articles; 
(v) the possession of articles indicating a registered defensive mark, for the 
purpose 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  
 
having the registered defensive mark 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 
having the registered defensive mark used in connection with the designated 
goods or designated services. 
 
(Mutatis Mutandis Application of Provisions Concerning Trademarks) 
Article 68 (1) The provisions of Article 5, Article 5-2, Article 6, paragraph (1), 
Article 6, paragraph (2), Articles 9-2 through 10, Article 12-2, Article 13, 
paragraph (1), and Article 13-2 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, paragraph (2)" in Article 5, paragraph (1) is 
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, paragraph (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 
5-2, paragraph, (1) is 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 13-2, paragraph (5) is deemed to be 
replaced with "Article 67 (except the part pertaining to item (i))." 
(2) The provisions of Articles 14 through 15-2 and 16 through 17-2 apply mutatis 
mutandis to the examination proceedings of an application for defensive mark 
registration. In this case, the term "Article 3, Article 4, paragraph (1), Article 
7-2, paragraph (1) Article, 8, paragraph (2) and (5), Article 51, paragraph (2) 
(including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 52-2, 
paragraph (2)), Article 53, paragraph (2)" in Article 15 item (i) is deemed to be 
replaced with "Article 64", and the term "Article 5,paragraph (5), or Article 6, 
paragraph (1) or (2)" in Article 15, item (iii) is deemed to be replaced with 
"Article 6, paragraph (1) or (2)." 
(3) The provisions of Article 18, Articles 26 through 28-2, Articles 32 through 33-
3, Article 35, Article 38-2 and Article 69 of this Act and Article 104-3, 
paragraphs (1) and (2) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant 
to Article 39 of this Act apply to a right based on defensive mark registration. 
In this case, the term "the registration fee under Article 40, paragraph (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 trial or appeal decisions to the 
effect that the trademark is to be registered pursuant to Article 41-2, paragraph  
 
(1)" in Article 18, paragraph (2) is deemed to be replaced with "the registration 
fee under Article 65-7 (1)." 
(4) The provisions of Article 43-2 (except item (iii)) to Article 45, Article 46 (except 
paragraph (1) items (iii) and (vii)), Article 46-2, Article 53-2, Article 53-3, 
Article 54, paragraph (1) and Articles 55-2 through 56-2 apply mutatis 
mutandis to an opposition to registration and trial pertaining to defensive mark 
registration. In this case, the term "Article 3, Article 4, paragraph (1), Article 
7-2, paragraph (1), Article 8, paragraphs (1), (2) and (5), Article 51, 
paragraph(2) (including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant 
to Article 52-2, paragraph (2)), and Article 53 paragraph(2)" in Article 43-2, 
item (i) Article 46, paragraph (1), item (i) is deemed to be replaced with "Article 
64" and the term "where ... the registered trademark has become a trademark 
that falls under any of Article 4, paragraph (1), items (i) through (iii), (v), 
and(vii),or 4, paragraph (1), item (xvi)" in Article 46, paragraph (1), item (vi) is 
deemed to be replaced with "where ... the trademark registration becomes in 
violation of Article 64." 
(5) The provisions of the preceding Chapter 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, item (ii) is deemed to be replaced with " Article 
67, items (ii) through (vii)," the term "a trademark right pertaining to ... 
trademark registration" in Article 60 is 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 is 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 a right based on defensive mark 
registration," the term "the establishment of a trademark right ... has been 
registered" in the same article is deemed to be replaced with "the establishment 
of a right based on defensive mark registration or the renewal 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 is deemed to be replaced with "a trademark 
identical with the registered defensive mark." 
 
Chapter VII-2 Special Provisions under the Protocol Relating to the 
Madrid Agreement 
 
Section 1 Applications for International Registration 
 
(Applications for International Registration)  
 
Article 68-2 (1) A Japanese national or a foreign national domiciled or resident 
(or, in the case of a corporation, with a place of business) in Japan who desires 
to obtain an international registration (hereinafter referred to as an 
"application for international registration") provided in Article 2, paragraph (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") must file an application with the Commissioner of the 
Patent Office (hereinafter referred to as an "application for international 
registration") pursuant to Article 2, paragraph (2) of the Protocol based on any 
of the following items; in this case, where requirements provided by Order 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 
must submit the prescribed application and required documents in foreign 
language pursuant to Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. 
(3) The application must state the following: 
(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, paragraph (2). 
(4) Any person who desires to apply Article 3, paragraph (3) of the Protocol in 
connection with a trademark or a mark pertaining to the application for 
international registration must 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 68-3 (1) The Commissioner of the Patent Office must send the application 
for international registration and the required documents to the International 
Bureau provided in Article 2, paragraph (1) of the Protocol (hereinafter referred 
to as the "International Bureau").  
 
(2) In the case of the preceding paragraph, where the particulars stated in the 
application correspond to the particulars stated in the basic application for 
trademark registration, etc. or in the basic trademark registration, etc., the 
Commissioner of the Patent Office must state in the application the fact thereof 
and the date of receipt of the application for international registration. 
(3) In the case of paragraph (1), the Commissioner of the Patent Office is to send 
to the applicant for international registration a copy of the application for 
international registration sent to the International Bureau. 
 
(Subsequent Designations) 
Article 68-4 The registered holder of an international registration may present to 
the Commissioner of the Patent Office, pursuant to Order of the Ministry of 
Economy, Trade and Industry, a request for territorial extension provided in 
Article 3-3 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 International Registration) 
Article 68-5 The registered holder of international registration may file with the 
Commissioner of the Patent Office, pursuant to Order of the Ministry of 
Economy, Trade and Industry, an application for renewal of international 
registration provided in Article 7, paragraph (1) of the Protocol (hereinafter 
referred to as "renewal of international registration"). 
 
(Request for Recording Changes in the Ownership of International Registration) 
Article 68-6 (1) The registered holder or transferee of international registration 
may, pursuant to Order 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 Applications for 
Trademark Registration) 
Article 68-7 Article 17, paragraph (3) (limited to the part pertaining to item (iii)) 
and Article 18, paragraph (1) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis 
pursuant to Article 77, paragraph (2) of this Act, applies mutatis mutandis to 
applications for international registration, subsequent designation,  
 
applications for the renewal of international registration and requests for the 
recording of a change in the ownership of international registration. 
 
(Delegation to Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) 
Article 68-8 Beyond the provisions of Articles 68-2 through 68-7, details of 
particulars relating to applications for international registration, subsequent 
designation, applications for renewal 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 must be provided by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and 
Industry. 
 
Section 2 Special Provisions for International Applications for 
Trademark Registration 
 
(Applications for Trademark Registration based on Requests for Territorial 
Extension) 
Article 68-9 (1) Any request for territorial extension to designate Japan is deemed 
to be an application for trademark registration filed on the date of international 
registration provided in Article 3 paragraph (4) of the Protocol (hereinafter 
referred to as the "date of international registration"); provided, however, that 
in the case of subsequent designation, the request is 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 3-3, paragraph (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, paragraph (1) (hereinafter referred 
to as the "International Register"). 
(2) Particulars stated in the left column of the following table contained in the 
International Register for the international registration designating Japan are 
deemed to be the stated in the right column of that table contained in the 
application submitted pursuant to Article 5, paragraph (1). 
 
 
The name and the domicile or 
residence of the registered holder o f 
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 
international registration and the 
class of the goods or services  
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); 
 
Among matters stated in the 
International Regist er, 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 on the Time of Filing of an International Application for 
Trademark Registration) 
Article 68-10 (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 68-9, paragraph 
(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 is 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 68-32 apply mutatis 
mutandis to the international application for trademark registration under the 
preceding paragraph. 
 
(Special Provisions on the Time of Filing of Applications)  
 
Article 68-11 For the purpose of application of Article 9, paragraph (2) to an 
international application for trademark registration, the term "at the 
paragraph time of filing of the application for trademark registration" in the 
paragraph must be replaced with "within thirty days from the date of the 
international application for trademark registration." 
 
(Special Provisions on the Division of Applications) 
Article 68-12 Article 10 does not apply to an international application for 
trademark registration. 
 
(Special Provisions Concerning Conversion of Applications) 
Article 68-13 Articles 11 and 65 do not apply to an international application for 
trademark registration. 
 
(Special Provisions on Particulars to be Contained in the Trademark Bulletin 
Regarding Publication of Applications) 
Article 68-14 For the purpose of application of Article 12-2, paragraph (2) to the 
international application for trademark registration, the term "the number and 
date of the application for trademark registration" in item (ii) of that paragraph 
must 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 on Proceedings for Priority Claims Governed by the Paris 
Convention) 
Article 68-15 (1) The provisions of paragraphs (1) through (4), and (7) through (9) 
of Article 43 of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis upon reading the 
specified terms in accordance with Article 13, paragraph (1) of this Act do not 
apply to an international application for trademark registration. 
(2) For the purpose of application of Article 43, paragraph (1) of the Patent Act 
as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 43-3, paragraph (3) of the 
Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis upon reading the specified terms in 
accordance with Article 13,, paragraph (1) of this Act to the international 
application for trademark registration, the portion "within the time limit 
provided by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry" in those 
paragraph must be replaced with "within thirty days from the date of the 
international application for trademark registration." 
 
(Special Provisions Concerning Rights Deriving from Applications for Trademark 
Registration)  
 
Article 68-16 (1) For the purpose of application of Article 34, paragraph (4) of the 
Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 13, paragraph (2) 
of this Act to the international application for trademark registration, the 
portion", except in the case of general succession including inheritance, without 
the Commissioner of the Patent Office" in those paragraph must be replaced 
with "without notification to the International Bureau provided in Article 68-3, 
paragraph (1) of the Trademark Act." 
(2) The provisions of paragraphs (5) through (7) of Article 34 of the Patent Act as 
applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 13, paragraph (2) of this Act do 
not apply to an international application for trademark registration. 
 
(Treatment of International Applications for Trademark Registration in Cases of 
Change in the Ownership of International Registration) 
Article 68-17 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 is deemed to have become applications for trademark registration 
with respect to each of the registered holders after the change. 
 
(Special Provisions Concerning New Applications for Trademarks as Amended) 
Article 68-18 (1) Article 17-3 of the Design Act as applied mutatis mutandis 
pursuant to Article 17-2, paragraph (1) or Article 55-2, paragraph (3) (including 
cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 60-2, paragraph 
(2)) of this Act does not apply to an international application for trademark 
registration. 
(2) Article 17-4 of the Design Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 
17-2, paragraph (2) of this Act does not apply to an international application 
for trademark registration. 
 
(Special Provisions Concerning Registration of Establishment of Trademark 
Rights) 
Article 68-19 (1) For the purpose of application of Article 18 paragraph (2) to the 
international application for trademark registration, the term "where the 
registration fee under Article 40, paragraph (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 or appeal decision to the effect that the trademark 
is to be registered under Article 41-2,paragraph (1) is paid" in that paragraph 
must 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 68-30, paragraph (1), item (ii) has been recorded in the 
International Register."  
 
(2) For the purpose of application of Article 18, paragraph (3) to the international 
application for trademark registration, in item (ii) of this paragraph the portion 
"the number and date of the application for trademark registration" must 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 that paragraph the portion "the registration number and the date of 
registration of establishment" must be replaced with "the number of 
international registration and the date of registration of the establishment." 
 
(Effect of the Expiration of International Registration) 
Article 68-20 (1) Where all or a portion of the international registration on which 
the international application for trademark registration is based has expired, 
the international application for trademark registration is deemed to have been 
withdrawn in respect of all or a portion of the designated goods or designated 
services that have expired. 
(2) Where all or a portion of the international registration on which the 
international registration is based has expired, the trademark right based on 
the international registration, the establishment of which has been registered 
under Article 18 paragraph (2) as applied upon reading the specified terms in 
accordance with Article 68-19, paragraph (1) (hereinafter referred to as the 
"trademark right based on international registration") is deemed to have 
expired in respect of all or the portion of the designated goods or designated 
services that have expired. 
(3) The preceding two paragraphs take effect as of the date the international 
registration expires in the International Register. 
 
(Term of Trademark Right based on International Registration) 
Article 68-21 (1) The term of a trademark right based on international 
registration expires after ten years from the date of the international 
registration (where the term 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 term of a trademark right based on international registration may be 
renewed based on the renewal of international registration. 
(3) Where the term of international registration is renewed, the term of the 
trademark right based on international registration must be renewed at the 
time of expiration. 
(4) Where the term of international registration is not renewed, the trademark 
right based on international registration is deemed to have become invalid 
retroactively at the time of expiration.  
 
 
(Special Provisions Concerning Registration of the Renewal of a Term) 
Article 68-22 (1) Articles 19 through 22, Article 23, paragraphs (1) and (2) do not 
apply to a trademark right based on international registration. 
(2) For the purpose of application of Article 23 paragraph (3) relating to a 
trademark right based on international registration, the portion "registration 
as set forth under the preceding two paragraphs" in this paragraph must be 
replaced with "renewal of international registration" and the portion "the 
registration number and the date of registration of renewal" in item (ii) of that 
paragraph must be replaced with "the number of international registration and 
the date of renewal of international registration." 
 
(Special Provisions Concerning the Division of a Trademark Right) 
Article 68-23 Article 24 does not apply to a trademark right based on 
international registration. 
 
(Special Provisions for the Transfer of Collective Trademark Rights) 
Article 68-24 (1) A collective trademark right based on international registration 
may not be transferred, unless the document provided in Article 7, paragraph 
(3) is submitted. 
(2) Article 24-3 does not apply to a trademark right based on international 
registration. 
 
(Special Provisions for Waivers of Trademark Rights) 
Article 68-25 (1) The holder of trademark right based on international 
registration may abandon the trademark right. 
(2) Article 34-2 does not apply to a trademark right based on international 
registration. 
 
(Special Provisions on Effects of the Registration of Trademark Rights) 
Article 68-26 (1) A transfer, modification due to trust, extinction by waiver or 
restriction on disposition of a trademark right based on international 
registration has no effect unless registered. 
(2) Article 98, paragraph (1), item (i) and Article 98, paragraph (2) of the Patent 
Act as applied mutatis mutandis upon reading the specified terms in accordance 
with Article 35 of this Act does not apply to a trademark right based on 
international registration. 
 
(Special Provisions for Registration in the Trademark Register) 
Article 68-27 (1) For the purpose of application of Article 71 paragraph (1), item 
(i) to a trademark right based on international registration, the term "the  
 
establishment, renewal, division, transfer, modification, extinction, restoration 
or restriction on disposition of a trademark right" in those items are to be 
replaced with "the establishment, modification due to trust or restriction on 
disposition of a trademark right." 
(2) The renewal, the transfer, the modification (excluding a modification due to 
trust) or the extinction of a trademark right based on international registration 
has effect in accordance with that registration in the International Register. 
 
(Special Provisions for the Amendment of Proceedings) 
Article 68-28(1) After receiving a notification under Article 15-2(including cases 
where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 55-2(1) (including 
cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 60-2(2))) or 
Article 15-3(including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to 
Article 55-2(1) (including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant 
to Article 60-2(2))), any amendment to the designated goods or services stated 
in the international application for a trademark registration may be made only 
when the case is a pending examination, appeal/trial or retrial. 
(2) The provisions of Article 68-40 do not apply to an international application for 
trademark registration, except for particulars deemed to be the detailed 
description of a trademark under Article 68-9, paragraph (2). 
 
(Extra Provisions Relating to Special Provisions on Trademark Right Covering 
Two or More Designated Goods or Designated Services) 
Article 68-29 For the purpose of the application of Article 69 relating to a 
trademark right based on international registration, the portion "Article 
20,paragraph (4), Article 33,paragraph (1) or Article 34-2 of this Act, Article 98, 
paragraph (1), item (i) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant 
to Article 35 of this Act" in Article 69 must be replaced with "Article 
33,paragraph (1), Article 68-25,paragraph (1) or Article 68-26, paragraph (1)" 
and the term "Article 71, paragraph (1), item (i)" in Article 69 must be replaced 
with "Article 71,paragraph (1), item (i) as applied mutatis mutandis upon 
reading the specified terms in accordance with Article 68-27, paragraph 
(1),Article 68-27, paragraph (2)." 
 
(Individual Fees for Trademark Rights based on International Registration) 
Article 68-30 (1) Any person who desires to obtain a registration of establishment 
of a trademark right based on international registration must pay to the 
International Bureau, as the individual fee provided in Article 8, paragraph (7), 
item (a) of the Protocol (hereinafter referred to as the "individual fee") for each 
registration in the following amounts: 
(i) the amount equivalent to the amount  specified by Cabinet Order not  
 
exceeding 6,000 yen plus the amount specified by Cabinet Order not 
exceeding 15,000 yen for each class of the goods and services; and 
(ii) the amount equivalent to the amount   specified by Cabinet Order not 
exceeding 32,900 yen,  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 must be paid prior to the international registration and the 
individual fee in the amount prescribed in item (ii) thereof must be paid within 
the time limit provided by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and 
Industry. 
(3) Where an examiner's decision or trial or appeal decision is rendered to the 
effect that a trademark pertaining to an international application for 
trademark registration is to be registered, the Commissioner of the Patent 
Office is to notify the International Bureau of the time limit for the payment of 
the individual fee pertaining to the application, in the amount prescribed in 
paragraph (1), item (ii). 
(4) Where the individual fee in the amount prescribed in paragraph (1), items (ii) 
is not paid, and as a result the international registration on which the 
international application for trademark registration is based is rescinded, the 
application is deemed to have been withdrawn. 
(5) A person requesting the renewal of a trademark right based on international 
registration must pay, as the individual fee to the International Bureau for 
each registration, the amountt equivalent to the amount  specified by Cabinet 
Order not exceeding 43,600 yen, multiplied by the number of classes of goods 
or services. 
(6) Articles 40 through 43 and Article 76, paragraph (2) (limited to the portion 
listed under item (i) of the appended table) do not apply to an application for 
international trademark registration and a trademark right based on the 
international registration. 
 
(Delegation to Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) 
Article 68-31 Beyond the provisions of Articles 68-9 through 68-30, details of 
particulars required for the implementation of the Protocol and the regulations 
thereunder must be provided by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and 
Industry. 
 
Section 3 Special Provisions For Applications For Trademark Registration 
 
(Special Provisions for application for Trademark Registration after Rescission of 
International Registration) 
Article 68-32 (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, paragraph (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 those goods 
or services. 
(2) Where an application for trademark registration under the preceding 
paragraph falls under all of the following items, the application is deemed to 
have been filed on the date of international registration (where the 
international registration under those paragraph is pertaining to the 
subsequent designation, the date of the subsequent designation pertaining to 
the international registration) of the international registration under those 
paragraph. 
(i) the application for trademark registration under the preceding paragraph is 
filed within three months from the date on which the international 
registration under the 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) When 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 paragraph also enjoys the same right of priority. 
(4) The preceding paragraph also applies to the cases where an international 
application for trademark registration pertaining to an international 
registration under paragraph (1) enjoyed a right of priority pursuant to Article 
43-3, paragraph (2) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis upon reading 
the specified terms in accordance with Article 9-3 or Article 13, paragraph (1) 
of this Act. 
(5) For the purpose of the application of Article 10, paragraph (1) to an application 
for trademark registration under paragraph (1), the portion of those paragraph 
"part of an application "is to 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 68-32, paragraph (1))." 
(6) When, 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), item (i), that  
 
person may, notwithstanding those item, file the application within 14 days 
(two months for overseas residents) from the date on which the reasons for not 
filing ceased to be applicable, but not later than six months after the expiration 
of that time limit. 
(7) The application for trademark registration filed under the preceding 
paragraph is deemed to have been filed at the time of expiration of the time 
limit under paragraph (2), item (i). 
 
(Special Provisions Concerning Applications for Trademark Registration after 
Denunciation of Protocol) 
Article 68-33 (1) When, pursuant to Article 15, paragraph (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, paragraph (1) of the Protocol, the person who 
was the registered holder of that international registration may file an 
application for trademark registration in connection with the goods or services 
listed in that international registration. 
(2) The provisions of Article 68-32, paragraphs (2) through (7) 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 that paragraph was rescinded" in 
paragraph (2), item (i) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "within two 
years from the date on which the denunciation under Article 15, paragraph (3) 
of the Protocol took effect." 
 
(Special Provisions on Reasons for Refusal) 
Article 68-34 (1) For the purpose of the application of Article 15 to an application 
for trademark registration pursuant to Article 68-32, paragraph (1) or Article 
68-33, paragraph (1), the portion "falls under any of the following items" in 
Article 15 must be replaced with "falls under any of the following items or 
where an application for trademark registration under Article 68-32, paragraph 
(1) or 68-33, paragraph.(1) does not comply with the requirements provided in 
Article 68-32, paragraph (1), Article 68-33, paragraph (1) or each item of Article 
68-32, paragraph (2) (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis upon 
reading the specified terms in accordance with Article 68-33, paragraph (2))." 
(2) The provisions of Article 15 (limited to the part pertaining to items (i) and (ii)) 
do not apply to an application for trademark registration under Article 68-32, 
paragraph (1) or Article 68-33, paragraph (1) pertaining to a trademark right 
that was pertaining to the international registration (referred to in Articles 68-
37 and 68-39 as "re-filing of trademark right pertaining to former international 
registration").  
 
 
(Special Provisions on Registration of the Establishment of Trademark Rights) 
Article 68-35 Notwithstanding Article 18, paragraph (2), where, in connection 
with an application for trademark registration under Article 68-32, paragraph 
(1) or Article 68-33, paragraph (1), the examiner's decision or the trial or appeal 
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 that application (where the term of the international 
registration has been renewed, the date of most renewal) and the individual fee 
in the amount prescribed in Article 68-30, paragraph (1), item (ii) has been paid 
to the International Bureau prior to the date on which the international 
registration pertaining to that application is rescinded pursuant to Article 6, 
paragraph (4) of the Protocol or to the date on which the denunciation under 
Article 15, paragraph (3) of the Protocol takes effect, the establishment of the 
trademark right must be registered. 
 
(Special Provisions on Terms for Trademarks) 
Article 68-36 (1) The term of a trademark right provided in Article 68-35 expires 
after ten years from the date of the international registration of the 
international registration pertaining to that application (where the term of the 
international registration has been renewed, the date of most recent renewal). 
(2) The provisions of Article 19, paragraph (1) do not apply to the term of a 
trademark right provided in the preceding paragraph. 
 
(Special Provisions on Opposition to Registration) 
Article 68-37 For the purpose of application of Article 43-2 to a trademark 
registration for the re-filing of a trademark right pertaining to a former 
international registration, the term "trademark registration" in that article is 
to be replaced with "trademark registration (in the case of a trademark 
registration for the re-filing 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 on Invalidation Trials of Trademark Registration) 
Article 68-38 For the purpose of the trial prescribed in Article 46, paragraph (1) 
for the trademark registration for an application for trademark registration 
under Article 68-32, paragraph (1) or Article 68-33, paragraph (1), the term 
"falls under any of the following items" in that paragraph is to be replaced with 
"falls under any of the following items or has been made in violation of the  
 
provisions of Article 68-32, paragraph (1), Article 68-33, paragraph (1) or each 
item of Article 68-32, paragraph (2) (including cases where applied mutatis 
mutandis upon reading the specified terms in accordance with Article 68-33, 
paragraph (2))." 
 
Article 68-39 For the purpose of the application of Article 47 to a trademark 
registration for the re-filing of a trademark right pertaining to a former 
international registration, the portion "may not be filed" in that article is to be 
replaced with "may not be filed. The same also applies, in relation to the 
trademark registration for the re-filing 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, paragraph (1) can be no longer filed pursuant to this 
article for the trademark registration pertaining to the former international 
registration." 
 
Chapter VIII Miscellaneous Provisions 
 
(Amendment of Proceedings) 
Article 68-40 (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 proceedings, 
examination proceedings on opposition to registration, trials and appeals or 
retrials. 
(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, paragraph (1) or Article 41-2, paragraph (1), make 
amendments to reduce the number of classes of goods or services pertaining to 
the application for trademark registration. 
 
(Special Provisions on Trademark Rights Covering Two or More Designated 
Goods or Designated Services) 
Article 69 For the purpose of the application of Article 13-2, paragraph (4) 
(including where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 68, 
paragraph (1)),Article 20, paragraph (4), Article 33, paragraph (1) and Article 
34-2 of this Act, Article 98, paragraph (1), item (i) of the Patent Act as applied 
mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 35 of this Act, Article 43-3, paragraph 
(3), Article 46, paragraph (3), Article 46-2 or 54 of this Act, Article 132, 
paragraph (1) of the Patent Act as respectively applied mutatis mutandis  
 
pursuant to Article 56, paragraph (1) of this Act or Article 174, paragraph(3) of 
the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 61 of this Act, 
Article 59 or 60, Article 71,paragraph (1), item (i) or Article 75, paragraph (2), 
item (iv) of this Act, to the trademark registration or trademark right covering 
two or more designated goods or designated services, the trademark is deemed 
to have been registered or the trademark right is deemed to exist, for each of 
the designated goods or designated services. 
 
(Special Provisions on Trademarks Similar to Registered Trademarks) 
Article 70 (1) The term "registered trademark" as used in Article 25, Article 29, 
Article 30, paragraph (2), Article 31, paragraph (2), Article 31-2, paragraph (1), 
Article 34, paragraph (1), Article 38, paragraph (1), item (ii) or paragraphs (3) 
through (5), Article 50, Article 52-2, paragraph (1), Article 59,item (i), Article 
64, Article 73 or 74 includes trademarks similar to the registered trademark 
that would be regarded as being identical with the registered trademark if they 
were in the same colors as the registered trademark. 
(2) The term "registered defensive mark" as used in Article 4, paragraph (1), item 
(xii) or Article 67 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 colors as the registered defensive mark. 
(3) The term "trademark similar to the registered trademark" as used in Article 
37, item (i) or 51, paragraph (1) does 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 colors as the registered 
trademark. 
(4) The preceding three paragraphs do not apply to a trademark that consists 
solely of colors. 
 
(Registration in the Trademark Registry) 
Article 71 (1) The following particulars are registered in the trademark register, 
kept in the Patent Office: 
(i) the establishment, renewal, division, transfer, modification, extinction, 
restoration or restriction on disposition of a trademark right; 
(ii) the establishment, renewal, transfer or extinction of right based on 
defensive mark registration; 
(iii) the establishment, maintenance, transfer, modification, extinction or 
restriction on disposition of exclusive right to use or non-exclusive right to 
use; and 
(iv) the establishment, transfer, modification, extinction or restriction on 
disposition of a right of pledge on a trademark right, exclusive right to use or 
non-exclusive right to use.  
 
(2) The trademark register may be prepared, in whole or in part, in the form of 
magnetic tapes (including other storage media of a similar format that can 
record or reliably store certain information; the same applies hereinafter). 
(3) Beyond those provided in this act, particulars relating to the registration must 
be provided by Cabinet Order. 
 
(Issuance of Certificates of Trademark Registration) 
Article 71-2 (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 must issue a certificate of 
trademark registration or defensive mark registration to the holder of 
trademark right. 
(2) The re-issuance of a certificate of trademark registration or defensive mark 
registration must be provided by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and 
Industry. 
 
(Requests for Certificates) 
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 
paragraph (4), or to issue documents stored on the magnetic tapes that 
constitute a part of the trademark register; provided, however, that if the 
Commissioner of the Patent Office considers it necessary to keep these 
documents or materials confidential, these provisions do not apply in the case 
of the following documents: 
(i) documents pertaining to a trial under Article 46,paragraph (1) (including 
cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 68,paragrap 
(4)), Article 50, paragraph (1), Article 51, paragraph (1),Article 52-2, 
paragraph (1), Article 53, paragraph (1) or Article 53-2 (including cases where 
it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 68, paragraph (4)) or a 
retrial of the final and binding trial or appeal decision rendered in those trial, 
with respect to which the party in the case or an intervener has given notice 
that a trade secret owned by that party in the case or intervener has been 
described (a trade secret as provided in Article 2, paragraph (6) of the Unfair 
Competition Prevention Act (Act No. 47 of 1993); the same shall apply in the 
following item); 
(ii) documents concerning an advisory opinion on the effects of a trademark 
right, with respect to which a party in the case has given notice that a trade 
secret owned by the said party in the case has been described; 
(iii) documents which are likely to negatively affect an individual's reputation  
 
or disturb their peaceful existence; and 
(iv) 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) through (iii) of the same paragraph, the Commissioner of 
the Patent Office notifies the person who submitted those documents thereof 
and reasons therefor. 
(3) Provisions of the Act Concerning Access to Information Held by 
Administrative Organs (Act No. 42 of 1999) do not apply to the documents 
concerning trademark registration or defensive mark registration and the part 
of the trademark register stored on magnetic tapes. 
(4) Provisions in Chapter V, Section 4 of the Act on the Protection of Personal 
Information Act Concerning Protection of Personal Information Possessed by 
Administrative Organs (Act No. 57 of 2003) do not apply to the possessed 
personal information (referring to the possessed personal information as 
provided in Article 60, paragraph (1) of that Act) recorded in the documents 
concerning trademark registration or defensive mark registration and the part 
of the trademark register stored on magnetic tapes. 
 
(Indication of Trademark Registration) 
Article 73 When the holder of trademark right, exclusive right to use or non-
exclusive right to use affixes the registered trademark to the designated goods, 
packaging 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 Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, they 
must 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 Misrepresentation) 
Article 74 It is prohibited for any person conduct the following acts: 
(i) affixing an indication of trademark registration, or an indication which could 
be confused as a trademark registration, in using a trademark that is not a 
registered trademark; 
(ii) affixing an indication of trademark registration, or an indication which 
could be confused as a trademark registration, in using a registered 
trademark for goods or services that are not the designated goods or 
designated services; 
(iii) the possession, for the purpose of assignment or delivery, of articles affixed  
 
on goods or on their packaging, a trademark other than a registered 
trademark, articles affixed on goods other than designated goods, or on their 
packaging, a registered trademark in connection with goods, or articles 
affixed on goods or on their packaging, a registered trademark in connection 
with services, where the indication of trademark registration or an indication 
which could be confused as such is affixed to that 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 those 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 those 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 those services, where the indication of 
trademark registration or an indication confusing therewith is affixed to 
those 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 those services through use of those 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 those services through use of those articles; 
 
(Trademark Bulletin) 
Article 75 (1) The Patent Office publishes the trademark bulletin 
(2) Beyond the particulars provided in this Act, the trademark bulletin must 
contain the following: 
(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 
applications for defensive mark registration after publication of application; 
(ii) succession of right deriving from an application for trademark registration 
after publication 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 
publication of application; 
(iv) extinctions of trademark rights (except due to the expiration of the 
trademark and the provisions of Article 41-2, paragraph (6) (including cases 
where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 41-2, paragraph 
(8)));  
 
(v) filing of an opposition to registration or request trials and appeals or a 
retrial, or withdrawal thereof; 
(vi) final and binding decisions on the opposition to registration, final and 
binding trial decision or the final and binding decision or decision on a retrial; 
and 
(vii) final and binding judgments in actions under Article 63, paragraph (1). 
 
(Fees) 
Article 76 (1) Fees must 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, paragraph (4) of the Patent 
Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 13, paragraph (2) of this 
Act; 
(ii) persons filing a request for an extension of the term under Article 17-4 of 
the Design Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 17-2, 
paragraph (2) (including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant 
to Article 68, paragraph (2)) of this Act, Article 41, paragraph (2), Article 41-
2, paragraph (2), 43-4, paragraph (3) (including cases where it is applied 
mutatis mutandis under Article 68, paragraph (4)) of this Act, Article 65-8, 
paragraph (3) or Article 4 of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis 
pursuant to Article 77, paragraph (1) of this Act or Article 5, paragraph (1), 
or a change of the date under Article 5, paragraph (2) of the Patent Act as 
applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 77, paragraph (1) of this Act. 
(iii) persons filing an application for international registration to the 
Commissioner of the Patent Office pursuant to Article 68-2; 
(iv) persons presenting to the Commissioner of the Patent Office a request for 
subsequent designation pursuant to Article 68-4; 
(v) persons filing an application for renewal of international registration to the 
Commissioner of the Patent Office pursuant to Article 68-5; 
(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 68-6; 
(vii) persons filing a request for the re-issuance 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, paragraph (1); 
(ix) persons filing a request for the issuance of a transcript of documents or an 
extract of documents pursuant to Article 72, paragraph (1); 
(x) persons filing a request to allow the inspection or copying of documents or 
materials under Article 5, paragraph (4) pursuant to Article 72, paragraph 
(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 register 
pursuant to Article 72, paragraph (1). 
(2) The persons listed in the center column of the attached table must pay fees in 
the amount as provided by Cabinet Order within the range of the amounts 
specified in the corresponding right-hand column of the table. 
(3) The preceding two paragraphs do not apply where the person to pay the fee in 
accordance with these paragraphs is the national government. 
(4) Where the national government has co-ownership 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 
national government, and the portion of their respective shares of that right 
has been agreed, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) or (2), the 
fees payable thereunder (limited to those provided by Cabinet Order) must be 
determined as the sum of the provided fees multiplied by the ratios of the share 
of each person other than the national government, and, the persons other than 
the national government must pay the sum. 
(5) Where of the fees calculated under the preceding paragraph has a fractional 
figure of less than ten yen, those portion must be discarded. 
(6) The payment of the fees under paragraph (1) or (2) must be made by patent 
revenue stamps as provided by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and 
Industry; provided, however, that where so provided by Order of the Ministry 
of Economy, Trade and Industry, a cash payment thereof must be accepted. 
(7) Fees paid in excess or in error must 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. 
(9) When, due to reasons beyond their control, the person filing a request for a 
refund a registration fee is unable to file the request within the time limit 
provided in paragraph (7), that person may, notwithstanding this paragraph, 
file the request within 14 days (two months for overseas residents) from the 
date on which the reasons for not filing ceased to be applicable, but not later 
than six months after the expiration of that time limit. 
 
(Mutatis Mutandis Application of the Patent Act) 
Article 77 (1) The provisions of Articles 3 through 5 (time periods and dates) of 
the Patent Act apply mutatis mutandis to time periods and dates provided in 
this Act. In this case, the term "Article 121, paragraph (1)" of Article 4 of the 
Patent Act is deemed to be replaced with "Article 44, paragraph (1) or Article 
45, paragraph (1) of the Trademark Act." 
(2) Articles 6 through 9, Articles 11 through 16, Article 17, paragraph (3) and  
 
Article 17, paragraph (4), Articles 18 through 24 and Article 194 (procedures) 
of the Patent Act applies 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 is deemed to be replaced with "appeal 
under Article 44, paragraph (1) or Article 45, paragraph (1) of the Trademark 
Act," the portion "appeal against an examiner's decision of refusal" in Article 
14 of the Patent Act is deemed to be replaced with "appeal under Article 44, 
paragraph (1) or Article 45, paragraph (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, paragraph (3) of the Patent 
Act is 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 
paragraph (2) of the Trademark Act or the registration fee (including the 
registration surcharge due and payable pursuant to Article 43 paragraph (1) or 
(2) of the Trademark Act) payable at the time of application for registration of 
renewal pursuant to Article 41-2, paragraph (7) of the Trademark Act is not 
paid," the portion "any of the items in Article 38-2, paragraph (1)" in Article 18-
2, paragraph (1) of the Patent Act is deemed to be replaced with "any of the 
items in Article 5-2, paragraph (1) of the Trademark Act (including cases where 
it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 68, paragraph (1) of the 
Trademark Act))." 
(3) The provisions of Article 25 (enjoyment of rights by foreign nationals) of the 
Patent Act apply mutatis mutandis to a trademark right and other rights 
relating to the trademark registration. 
(4) The provisions of Article 26 (effect of treaties) of the Patent Act apply mutatis 
mutandis to the trademark registration and defensive mark registration. 
(5) The provisions of Articles 189 through 192 (Service) of the Patent Act apply 
mutatis mutandis to service provided in this Act. 
(6) The provisions of Article 195-3 of the Patent Act apply mutatis mutandis to 
dispositions under this Act or under an order based on this Act. 
(7) Article 195-4(Restriction on request for review under provisions of 
Administrative Complaint Review 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 actor inaction thereof. 
  
 
(Transitional Measures) 
Article 77-2 When 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 that order. 
 
Chapter IX 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 is deemed to constitute infringement of a 
trademark right or an exclusive right to use under Article 37 or Article 67) is 
subject to punishment by imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or a 
fine not exceeding 10,000,000 yen or both. 
 
Article 78-2 Any person who has committed an act that is deemed to constitute 
infringement of a trademark right or an exclusive right to use under Article 37 
or Article 67 is subject to punishment by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 
five years or a fine not exceeding 5,000,000 yen or both. 
 
(Crime of Fraud) 
Article 79 Any person who has obtained a trademark registration, defensive mark 
registration, registration of renewal of trademark right or right based on 
defensive mark registration, decision on opposition to registration or trial 
decision by means of a fraudulent act is subject to punishment by imprisonment 
with work for a term not exceeding three years or a fine not exceeding 3,000,000 
yen. 
 
(Crime of False Indication) 
Article 80 Any person who fails to comply with Article 74 is subject to punishment 
by imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or a fine not exceeding 
3,000,000 yen. 
 
(Crime of Perjury) 
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, is subject to punishment by imprisonment for a term of between three 
months and ten years. 
(2) When 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 trial decision has 
become final and binding, the punishment may be reduced or waived 
 
(Crime of Breaching a Confidentiality Order) 
Article 81-2 (1) Any person who fails to comply with an order pursuant to Article 
105-4, paragraph (1) (including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis 
pursuant to Article 13-2, paragraph (5)) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis 
mutandis pursuant to Article 39 of this Act is subject to imprisonment for a 
term not exceeding five years or a fine not exceeding 5,000,000 yen or both. 
(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) applies to a person who commits the crime 
under that paragraph while outside Japan. 
 
(Dual Criminal Liability Provisions) 
Article 82 (1) When a representative of a corporation or an agent, employee or 
other staff member of a corporation or an individual has committed, in the 
course of performing social activities for the corporation or individual, any act 
in violation of the provisions prescribed in the following items, beyond the 
offender, the corporation is subject to punishment by a fine as provided in the 
corresponding items and the individual is subject to punishment by a fine as 
provided in each article prescribed in the following items: 
(i) Article 78, Article 78-2 or Article 81-2, paragraph (1), a fine not exceeding 
300 million yen; and 
(ii) Article 79 or Article 80, a fine not exceeding 100 million yen. 
(2) In the case of the preceding paragraph, a complaint under Article 81-2, 
paragraph (2) against the offender also has effect on the corporation or 
individual and a complaint against the corporation or individual also has effect 
on the offender. 
(3) When a fine is imposed on a judicial person or individual pursuant to 
paragraph (1) with regard to a violation of Article 78, Article 78-2 or 81-2, 
paragraph (1), the period of prescription is governed by the same rules as for 
crimes in the provisions thereof. 
 
(Non-Criminal Fines) 
Article 83 When a person who has taken an oath under Article 207, paragraph (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, 
paragraph (3) of the Patent Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to 
Article 28, paragraph (3) (including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis 
pursuant to Article 68, paragraph (3) of this Act) of this Act, Article 43-8  
 
(including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 60-2, 
paragraph (1) and 68, paragraph (4) of this Act) or Article 56, paragraph (1) 
(including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 68, 
paragraph (4) of this Act), Article 174, paragraph (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, paragraph (5) of this Act), 
Article 58, paragraph (2) of the Design Act as applied mutatis mutandis 
pursuant to Article 62, paragraph (1) (including cases where it is applied 
mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 68, paragraph (5) of this Act), or Article 
58, paragraph (3) of the Design Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to 
Article 62, paragraph (2) (including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis 
pursuant to Article 68, paragraph (5) of this Act) has made a false statement 
before the Patent Office or a court commissioned thereby, that person is subject 
to a non-criminal 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 just cause is subject to a non-criminal 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 is subject to a non-
criminal fine not exceeding 100,000yen. 
 
Supplementary provisions (Extract) 
within the period specified by Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and 
Industry 
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  
12,000 yen per case plus 
30,000 yen for each class   
 
mark registration or for 
registration of renewal of 
the duration of a right 
based on defensive mark 
registration 
 
3  
Person responsible for 
the procedures under  
Article 43(7), Article 
41(3), Article 41- 2(3), 
Article 65- 8(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 
advisory opinion 
pursuant to Article 28(1) 
(including cases where it 
is applied mutatis 
mutandis pursuant to 
Article 68(3))  
40,000 yen per case 
 
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