Frequently Asked Questions

A.Yes, your first consultation is free of charge. Consultations are available in person, online (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.), or by phone. Please feel free to reach us via our contact form or by phone (06-7777-1884). For an overview of the engagement process, see How Consultations Work.

A.Yes. We support all major online meeting tools, including Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. We serve clients throughout Japan and overseas, so distance is no obstacle. If you let us know your preferred date and time in advance via our contact form, one of our patent attorneys will get back to you.

A.Whatever materials you have on hand are enough — a memo outlining your invention, candidate product or service names, logo drafts, brochures, and the like. Even if your materials are not yet organized, we will sort everything out together as we talk, so please don't worry. For patent consultations, you can also use our invention disclosure sheet template (free download).

A.Yes, we welcome consultations from the idea stage. In fact, the earlier in development you talk to us, the more options are available — from designing the filing timeline to precautions before any public disclosure. For details, see The 5 Best Times to Seek Advice.

A.Of course. Patent attorneys are bound by a statutory duty of confidentiality under Japan's Patent Attorney Act regarding secrets learned in the course of their work, so you can consult us with confidence even without an NDA. That said, we will gladly sign an individual NDA upon request, including NDAs in English, German, Chinese, and other languages.

A.Based in Osaka, we serve clients throughout Japan and around the world. We can also travel to Tokyo, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and other major cities. With online consultations, we deliver the same quality of service wherever you are, and we handle international matters worldwide through our network of local associates.

A.Our standard business hours are weekdays 9:00–18:00 JST. For urgent matters or clients in distant locations, we can flexibly arrange consultations outside business hours or on weekends by prior appointment. We also accommodate matters that span time zones with overseas associates.

A.Yes. We respond quickly to time-critical matters, such as responses just before office action deadlines, replies to warning letters, and last-minute filings ahead of trade shows or product launches. We can also propose making use of accelerated examination and accelerated appeal examination.

A.As a rule, we issue invoices payable by bank transfer. We work with corporations, sole proprietors, and individuals alike. We are registered as a qualified invoice issuer under Japan's invoice system.

A.Yes, we would be glad to help. We serve a wide range of clients regardless of size or industry — individual inventors, creators, authors, and entertainment professionals, as well as SMEs and listed companies. For individuals and small businesses, we also propose making use of official fee reduction programs.

A.Yes. After completing the change-of-representative procedures, we can take over at any stage — for example, starting from the response to an office action, or handling only annuity management for existing rights. We also offer second opinions.

A.A patent attorney (benrishi) is a nationally licensed specialist in intellectual property — patents, utility models, designs, and trademarks — and only patent attorneys (and attorneys-at-law) are authorized to represent clients in proceedings before the Japan Patent Office (JPO). Their specialization in securing rights in technology and brands is the key difference from attorneys-at-law. For details, see What Is a Benrishi? Roles and How They Differ from Attorneys-at-Law.

A.Fees vary with the type of matter (patent, trademark, design, etc.), the technical difficulty of the field, the number of claims or classes, and the number of designated countries. As a guide, our firm's fees for a patent application start in the JPY 300,000 range for straightforward cases and from around JPY 600,000 for complex ones (see Patent Application Services). Estimates are free, we always present the fee before you engage us, and we consult you in advance whenever additional costs may arise.

A.As of July 2026: the filing fee is JPY 14,000; the request for examination costs JPY 138,000 plus JPY 4,000 per claim; and upon registration, the patent fees for the first through third years are due (JPY 4,300 plus JPY 300 per claim, per year). Our service fees are separate. For a cost breakdown for IT cases, see Costs of Filing Software and System Patents.

A.As of July 2026: at filing, JPY 3,400 plus JPY 8,600 per class; at registration, JPY 32,900 per class (for the full 10-year term paid in a lump sum; payment in 5-year installments is JPY 17,200 per class). Renewal costs JPY 43,600 per class. Because fees depend on the number of classes, choosing the right classes is important.

A.As of July 2026, the filing fee is JPY 16,000 per design, and the registration fees are JPY 8,500 per year for the first through third years and JPY 16,900 per year from the fourth year onward. For the process and costs from filing to registration, see The 5 Steps of Design Registration.

A.Yes. SMEs, startups, sole proprietors, and others can have the examination request fee and the patent fees (years 1–10) reduced to one-half or one-third (depending on eligibility). When you file, we make sure no available reduction goes unused. For details, see Guide to the New Fee Reduction Program and Fee Reductions and Support Programs [2026 Edition].

A.Yes. The best known are the foreign filing subsidies from JETRO, INPIT, and others for SMEs, which cover one-half of eligible costs with caps reaching several million yen depending on the category. We support you from checking application windows and requirements through preparing the application documents. For details, see Guide to the INPIT Foreign Filing Subsidy.

A.Yes, estimates are free. After hearing about your invention and the scope of protection you have in mind, we provide a written estimate with an itemized breakdown of official fees and our service fees. Inquiries for comparative quotes are also welcome.

A.For large matters or multiple simultaneous filings, we are happy to discuss installment payment. We can also adjust when costs arise — for example, filing this fiscal year and requesting examination the next — so please feel free to talk to us about your budget.

A.Yes. Patents, utility models, and designs require annuities (patent or registration fees) to keep the right in force, and trademarks require a renewal fee every 10 years (or in 5-year installments). Our docketing system tracks payment deadlines and notifies you in advance, so you need not worry about missed payments. See also our Complete Guide to Trademark Renewal in Japan.

A.We can propose a plan that maximizes protection within your budget: focusing on core technologies and flagship brands, prioritizing trademark classes, using fee reductions and subsidies, and staggering filing dates. We start by helping you sort out what to protect and what to let go — please begin with a free consultation.

A.Patents cover technical ideas (inventions) that use the laws of nature: "products" such as devices and articles, "processes" such as manufacturing and control methods, and even computer programs themselves. Patents differ from utility models in requiring a higher level of technical sophistication. For details, see Patent Application Services.

A.The main requirements are: (1) novelty (the invention has not been publicly disclosed before filing); (2) inventive step (it would not be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art); (3) industrial applicability; and (4) first to file (yours is the earliest application for the same invention). Because disclosure before filing destroys novelty, consulting us before any announcement or sale is critical.

A.On average, the first examination result issues around 10 months after the request for examination, and the total time from filing to registration is typically 2–3 years. Accelerated examination can shorten this to a few months. For the full process, see our Complete Illustrated Guide to the Application Process.

A.These programs move your application up the examination queue if certain requirements are met (SMEs and startups, working-related applications, etc.). Accelerated examination can produce a first result in a few months, and under super-accelerated examination there are cases where it arrived in as little as about one month. See Case Studies of Super-Accelerated Examination and Requirements and Risks Explained.

A.In principle, disclosure before filing destroys novelty. However, if you file within one year of your own disclosure, you may be able to invoke the exception to loss of novelty (grace period). Note that it does not save you where a third party disclosed independently, and some foreign countries offer no such relief — so filing before disclosure remains the best course. For details, see The Exception to Loss of Novelty Explained.

A.We strongly recommend one. A pre-filing search avoids wasted filing costs and lets us design a strong scope of protection informed by the prior art. We offer everything from quick screening searches to full-scale searches to fit your budget. For how to commission one, see our Guide to Commissioning a Patent Search.

A.An office action is a sign that registration may still be possible through amendment and argument — there is no need to give up. You respond by filing a written opinion and amendment within the designated period (usually 60 days). We provide end-to-end support, from analyzing the grounds for refusal to devising the response strategy and drafting the documents, including cases originally filed by other firms. For common patterns, see 5 Common Reasons Software Patents Get Rejected.

A.Yes. An examiner interview is an effective way to explain directly the key points of the invention that are hard to convey on paper, and to discuss the path to allowance. Online interviews are also available. For details, see 5 Benefits of Examiner Interviews.

A.Yes. All applications are laid open 18 months after filing (the application publication system). That is why it is important to separate the technology you protect with patents from the technology you keep secret as know-how. For the decision criteria, see Patent or Trade Secret: How to Choose.

A.In Japan, filing alone does not start examination: you must file a request for examination within 3 years of the filing date. Miss the deadline and the application is deemed withdrawn. The advantage of this system is that you can time the request strategically as your business develops — and we manage the deadline for you.

A.Twenty years from the filing date (with term extension available for pharmaceuticals and certain other fields). Annual patent fees (annuities) must be paid to maintain the right; stop paying and the right lapses at that point. We handle annuity deadline management and payment on your behalf.

A.It is a procedure that carves part of the invention out of one application into a new application. It is a pillar of IP strategy — for example, obtaining an additional patent with a different scope after allowance, or securing rights to part of the invention first after a rejection. See Divisional Applications: Benefits, Deadlines, and Costs and Divisional Strategy Lessons from Game Companies.

A.For employee inventions, the right to obtain a patent can be vested in the company by providing for this in advance in work regulations or similar rules; in that case the employee must receive "reasonable benefits." We also help you put employee invention regulations in place. For in-house development practice, see In-House Development and Employee Inventions.

A.It is essential to fix in the contract, in advance, the ownership shares in joint applications, allocation of filing costs, terms for working and licensing, and ownership of results. University collaborations raise further issues such as compensation for non-working. See 5 Checkpoints for Avoiding Trouble in Joint Research.

A.A patent protects highly advanced technical inventions after substantive examination (term: 20 years from filing), while a utility model protects devices relating to the shape, structure, or combination of articles and is registered quickly without substantive examination (term: 10 years). Utility models suit products with short life cycles; patents suit core technologies. We propose the filing strategy best suited to each case.

A.Utility models are registered after a check of basic formal requirements only, with no substantive examination of novelty or inventive step. Registration therefore takes only a few months from filing, and costs are lower. The flip side is that the validity of the right is only tested after registration, so care is needed when enforcing it (see the next Q&A).

A.As of July 2026, the filing fee is JPY 14,000, and at filing you also pay the registration fees for the first through third years (JPY 2,100 plus JPY 100 per claim, per year). Our service fees are separate. Both the official fees and the service fees are lower than for a patent.

A.Because utility models are registered without examination, before enforcing the right (e.g., sending a warning) you must present the JPO's Report of Utility Model Technical Opinion (request fee: JPY 42,000 plus JPY 1,000 per claim). Enforcing the right despite a negative opinion can expose you to liability for damages, so a strategic review before enforcement is essential.

A.Products whose value lies in structural ingenuity — everyday goods, tools, jigs — with short market cycles, where you want protection quickly and inexpensively. Conversely, process inventions and software cannot be protected by utility models, so a patent is the choice there. If you are unsure, we can help you decide in a free consultation.

A.Yes. Within certain requirements and time limits, a utility model application can be converted into a patent application (and vice versa). This enables strategies such as registering quickly as a utility model first and switching to a patent as the business grows — but constraints apply, including deadlines and whether a technical opinion has been requested, so consult us early.

A.Japan follows the first-to-file principle: rights go to whoever files first. If you merely keep using a name, someone else can register it — and one day you may suddenly be unable to use it. We recommend registering brand names, company names, and logos early as business assets. For real-world disputes, see our IP Trouble Case Files (Trademark Edition).

A.Typically 6–8 months from filing to registration. Using accelerated examination can shorten this to around 2–3 months in some cases. If you have pressing circumstances (counterfeit damage, Amazon Brand Registry, etc.), we can start by assessing whether you meet the accelerated examination requirements. For details, see our Complete Guide to Accelerated Examination.

A.Goods and services are divided into 45 categories, and a trademark application must designate the classes and the goods/services within them for which the mark will be used. Fees depend on the number of classes, and a wrong choice can leave you without the protection you need. See our Class List and Selection Guide and our Guide to the January 2026 Class Reform.

A.Terms that are merely the generic name of the goods or a plain description of their quality (e.g., "Apple" for apples) cannot be registered, because they lack the power to distinguish whose goods they are (distinctiveness). Building distinctiveness in from the naming stage is the shortest route to registration. For details, see Distinctiveness Explained in Depth.

A.Besides marks lacking distinctiveness, unregistrable marks include those identical or similar to another party's earlier mark, those contrary to public order and morality, and those containing another person's name (rules partially relaxed by the 2024 amendment). For frequent pitfalls, see Common NG Patterns and Grounds for Refusal Explained.

A.For prior use rights to be recognized, your mark must already have been widely known among consumers at the time of the other party's filing — a very high bar in practice. Relying on prior use rights is risky; as a rule, we recommend defending your brand through trademark registration.

A.Available responses include contesting the similarity finding (written opinion), amending to delete overlapping goods/services, obtaining the earlier owner's consent under the consent system introduced in 2024, or an assign-back arrangement. Do not give up before consulting us. For details, see our Complete Guide to the Trademark Consent System.

A.Each has advantages and drawbacks. Corporate ownership makes business transfers and M&A smoother, while personal ownership keeps the brand in the founder's own hands. For a comparison covering tax, inheritance, and licensing, see Personal or Corporate Ownership?.

A.A word mark (standard characters) broadly covers the name's sound and meaning, while a logo mark is strong against visual imitation. If the budget allows, file both; if you must choose, we advise based on how the brand is actually used. Note that two-tier marks combining English and katakana have pitfalls (see 3 Pitfalls of Two-Tier Marks).

A.Ten years from registration, and by renewal it can be maintained every 10 years indefinitely (payment in 5-year installments is also possible). We can manage renewal deadlines for you. For the procedure, see our Complete Guide to Trademark Renewal in Japan.

A.A mark that has gone unused for three consecutive years or more risks cancellation through a non-use cancellation trial filed by a third party. For how to keep evidence of use and defend yourself, see Non-Use Cancellation Trials: Basics and Defenses. Conversely, you can use the system offensively — cancelling another party's unused mark to clear the way for your own registration.

A.Yes, we conduct pre-filing trademark searches. We check for similar earlier marks and likely distinctiveness, then advise on the prospects of registration and on alternatives. Consulting us while you still have several candidates is most effective. On why searches matter, see Naming Searches Explained.

A.Yes. In businesses where the name is the brand — YouTubers, VTubers, artists, fortune-tellers — registering the activity name is the linchpin of protection against copycats and impersonators. Restrictions on marks containing another person's name were partially relaxed by the 2024 amendment. See Trademarks for Stage and Activity Names and The Personal Name Amendment Explained.

A.Yes. Since 2015, sound marks, color-only marks, motion marks, hologram marks, and position marks have been registrable. They are useful for protecting the brand value of sound logos and corporate colors. For details, see New Types of Trademarks Explained.

A.It protects a product's "design" — its shape, pattern, and coloration. Since the 2020 legal reform, protection covers not only physical articles but also building exteriors and interiors, and graphic images (app UIs and icons). Patents guard the technology, trademarks the brand name, and designs the appearance — a division of roles that protects your product from every angle. See also our Design Registration Services.

A.The flow is search → filing → examination → registration, and it generally takes about 6 months to a year from filing to registration (accelerated examination can shorten this). Because how the drawings are prepared determines the scope of protection, hands-on experience matters greatly in this field. See our Illustrated 5-Step Guide to Design Registration.

A.Twenty-five years from the filing date (for applications filed on or after April 1, 2020). There is no renewal system as with trademarks, but the term is longer than a patent's 20 years, deterring imitation of your design over the long run. Continuing to protect a product with designs and trademarks after its patent expires is another effective strategy.

A.If you file within one year of your own disclosure, you may be able to invoke the exception to loss of novelty. The procedure requires documents proving the fact of disclosure, and any omission leads to refusal. For details, see The Exception to Loss of Novelty for Designs.

A.Yes. As "graphic image designs," operational images and display images can be protected independently of any physical article — an effective measure against competitors copying your screen designs. See Registered UI Screen Designs in Japan and How Google Protects Its App UI/UX.

A.Yes. The 2020 reform introduced designs for buildings and interiors, making it possible to protect store designs that embody your brand's world. It is also effective against copying of "Instagrammable" spaces in restaurants and retail stores. See Interior Design Protection Case Studies.

A.A partial design protects only a distinctive part of a product: if that part is copied, you can enforce your right even where the overall product differs. Related designs let you lock in broad coverage of variations of your own design. Combined, they weave a web of rights that blocks imitators from slipping through.

A.A system that keeps the content of a registered design confidential for up to three years from registration. You can register a pre-launch product design without showing your hand to competitors. We can propose ways to use it in line with your product release plans.

A.No — copyright arises automatically at the moment of creation, with no registration required (the no-formality principle). That said, using the registration system of Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs brings advantages in disputes, such as perfecting an assignment against third parties and a presumption of the creation date. For copyright licensing and infringement matters, see our Copyright Services.

A.The artwork is protected automatically by copyright, but to cover the character's name and merchandising, combining trademark registrations (name and device) and design registrations is effective. We propose multi-layered protection with a licensing business in view. See Protecting Characters: Copyright and Trademarks and Key Points of the Character Business.

A.Mass-produced product designs are treated as "applied art," and in practice the bar for copyright protection is high. As a rule, we recommend protection through design registration. For details, see Product Design and Copyright.

A.Japan has no provision expressly permitting parody, and parody products carry a high risk of infringing the original's copyright or trademark rights or violating the Unfair Competition Prevention Act. "It's funny, so it's fine" is no defense. For the risks in detail, see The Dangers of Parody Marks.

A.To be protected as a trade secret under the Unfair Competition Prevention Act, you need an internal management regime meeting three requirements: (1) kept secret (access restrictions, confidentiality markings, etc.); (2) commercially useful; and (3) not publicly known. For choosing between patenting (which entails publication) and secrecy, see Patent or Trade Secret: How to Choose.

A.Within three years of launch, the Unfair Competition Prevention Act's rules against dead-copy imitation of product configurations may allow you to seek an injunction and damages even without a design registration. Acts causing confusion with well-known product indications are also covered. We support you from preserving evidence onward (see our Unfair Competition Services).

A.Unless the contract provides otherwise, copyright in principle stays with the creator (the contractor). To avoid trouble after delivery, the contract must expressly provide for the assignment of copyright and the non-exercise of moral rights. We also review contracts so you can use your deliverables with confidence.

A.The prevailing view at present is that output generated purely automatically by AI is unlikely to qualify as a copyrighted work, while material involving human creative contribution can be protected (the debate is ongoing). For the trademark risks of using an AI-generated name for your brand, see Is an AI-Generated Brand Name a Trademark Infringement?.

A.Yes. We provide end-to-end representation: oppositions against others' trademarks, filing and defending invalidation trials, appeals against examiner's refusals, and actions to revoke trial decisions before the IP High Court. Our firm has prevailed in all six trademark invalidation trials it has handled. We can act on either the attacking or the defending side.

A.Yes. In cases involving patent, trademark, or design infringement or violations of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act, we prepare expert opinions and technical explanatory materials and support the litigation in coordination with attorneys-at-law. We also have a strong record in pre-suit warning letter responses, negotiations, and settlements. The first moves before litigation are decisive, so please consult us early.

A.Never ignore it — but rushing to comply, or replying on your own judgment, is just as dangerous. First, a specialist analyzes whether the sender's right is valid and whether your product truly falls within its scope; only then do we set the course: rebuttal, design-around, or license negotiation. Response deadlines apply, so contact us as soon as the letter arrives.

A.First preserve evidence of the infringement (the product itself, sales pages, dates), then assess the validity of your right and whether infringement is established, and choose the best route among warning letters, license negotiations, reports to e-commerce marketplaces, customs seizure, and litigation. See also Tips for Spotting Infringing Goods on E-Commerce Marketplaces.

A.Yes. We handle license agreements for patents, trademarks, designs, and copyright — royalty structuring, the choice between exclusive and non-exclusive licenses, sublicense clauses, and governing law and jurisdiction for international licenses. We also draft agreements in English and Chinese to support cross-border transactions.

A.In short: a search report organizes the facts, a written opinion presents the patent attorney's view, and an expert opinion (kantei-sho) is a formal document setting out a legal evaluation — they differ in purpose and weight. Which document is required varies, from product listings with mass retailers to dispute handling. See The Three Documents Compared and Why Retail Listings Call for an Expert Opinion.

A.On an ongoing basis, we provide day-to-day IP advice, centralized management of filings and deadlines, risk checks for new products, and in-house IP training — an "in-house IP department" at low cost. Compared with spot engagements, retainer clients receive priority, more agile support. For details, see our Retained Patent Attorney Services.

A.A strategy that protects a single product or service in multiple layers — patents, utility models, designs, trademarks, copyright, and the Unfair Competition Prevention Act. Take a smartwatch: patents protect the technology, designs the appearance, and trademarks the brand name, so that even after the patents expire, the designs and trademarks preserve your competitive edge. See An IP Mix Case Study in UI/UX.

A.No. Intellectual property rights are territorial: each country's rights are independent, and a Japanese right has effect only within Japan. If you export, expand abroad, or sell cross-border online, you need to obtain rights in each target country. See our IP Strategy Guide for Import/Export Businesses.

A.A patent filing system under which a single international application has the same effect as filing simultaneously in its many contracting states. Its greatest advantage is that you can defer the decision on entering each country until 30 months from the priority date, giving you time to gauge the business case. The international search report also gives you an early view of patentability. For details, see our PCT International Application Services.

A.As a rule of thumb: if your target countries are already fixed at around two or three, take the Paris route (file in each country within 12 months of the priority date); if the countries are numerous or you want more time to read the market, take the PCT. Their cost structures and timelines differ, so the choice should fit your business plan. See Paris Route vs. PCT: A Thorough Comparison.

A.A system that, based on your Japanese trademark application or registration, lets you seek protection in multiple countries through a single international application. It costs less than appointing local counsel country by country and makes centralized portfolio management easier. For costs, benefits, and caveats, see our Complete Guide to the Madrid Protocol.

A.A system for seeking design registration in multiple contracting states through a single international application. When rolling out a design globally, it streamlines procedures and costs compared with filing separately in each country. Because examination practice varies by country, a drawing strategy tailored to your target countries is essential. For international designs, consult us via our Design Registration Services.

A.Yes: (1) use the foreign filing subsidies from JETRO, INPIT, and others (covering one-half of costs); (2) choose appropriately between the PCT and the Paris route; (3) prioritize your filing countries; and (4) optimize translation costs. See Guide to Foreign Filing Subsidies and Tips for Cutting National Phase Entry Costs.

A.We cover the United States, Europe, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, South America, Oceania, and more. Through our network of local patent firms in each country, we provide end-to-end support from filing through grant and maintenance. Our blog publishes guides to the systems of some 50 countries, including the United States, Europe, and South Korea.

A.Bad-faith preemptive filings (trademark squatting) by third parties are common in China. Recovery options include oppositions, invalidation declarations, and non-use cancellations. These take time and money, however, so the best defense is filing early — before you enter the market. See our Guide to China's Trademark System and Complete Guide to Registering Your Company Name in China.

A.Yes. By filing an application for import suspension with Japan Customs based on your patent, trademark, or design rights, you can have counterfeits stopped at the border. Japanese customs seizures now exceed 30,000 cases a year, making this an effective measure in the e-commerce era. For details, see Customs Seizure: Latest Trends and How to Use It.

A.Three things matter: (1) file for the exhibited technology and designs in advance (public display destroys novelty); (2) run a clearance check on third-party rights in the host country; and (3) prepare anti-counterfeiting measures (a system for gathering evidence locally). Trade shows are a frequent starting point for technology leakage and imitation, so we recommend consulting us before you exhibit. See IP Strategy for Overseas Trade Shows.

A.Yes. The basic sequence is trademark registration → Amazon Brand Registry → infringement reporting. With a trademark right, you can report and remove piggyback listings and unauthorized use of your logo on firm legal grounds. We offer Amazon IP Infringement Support as a dedicated service.

A.In principle, a registered trademark (a word mark, or an image mark containing text). Enrollment based on a pending application is sometimes possible, but a granted registration is the more reliable path. For the requirements, the procedure, and the trademark "pitfalls," see our article on Amazon Brand Registry and trademarks.

A.Preserve evidence with screenshots of the product page, the seller information, and the dates, then request takedowns through each marketplace's IP infringement reporting form. How readily reports succeed depends on the type of right (trademark, design, copyright), so building the right portfolio in advance is key. See Tips for Spotting Infringing Goods on E-Commerce Marketplaces.

A.First we verify the claimant's right (registration number and scope) and analyze whether you actually infringe. Depending on the situation, we pursue a non-infringement rebuttal, license negotiations, or changes to the design or name, aiming to restore your account. Left unaddressed, the issue can spread to your entire account, so contact us right away.

A.Yes. Beyond reports on domestic marketplaces, cross-border e-commerce and foreign marketplaces require rights in the local market as a precondition. We therefore propose layered measures combining trademark and design protection in your key markets with applications for import suspension at customs.

A.Three things: (1) a clearance search confirming you do not infringe third-party patents, designs, or trademarks; (2) trademark registration of your own brand name; and (3) IP warranty clauses in the OEM agreement. Mass retailers may also require a search report or expert opinion when you list products with them. See IP Searches and Expert Opinions for Retail Listings.

A.If you sell continuously under a brand name, we recommend registration whatever your size. If someone else registers it first, you risk being forced to rename your shop or having your account suspended. On protecting shop names and personal brands, see Personal Brands and Trademark Registration.

A.Yes. We conduct freedom-to-operate (FTO) clearance searches to confirm you do not infringe third-party rights. Problems discovered after manufacturing or stocking are costly, so a search at the planning stage — before sale — is most effective. See our Complete Guide to FTO Searches and Why IP Searches Before Manufacturing and Sale Matter.

A.Yes. Software-related inventions are patentable when framed as concrete information processing that uses hardware resources. The angles for protection are many: algorithms, data processing, UI control, API integration, and more. To see which parts of your own service could be patented, see Patent Points for SaaS (Feature Map).

A.Yes — but the inventive substance must lie in the ICT-based means of implementation, not in the business scheme itself. Business-related invention filings exceed 20,000 a year in Japan, and their use keeps spreading. For where the obtainable/unobtainable line falls, see The Boundary Line of Business Method Patents and How to Obtain One.

A.Yes. A wide range can be protected: AI algorithms, learning model architectures, training data preprocessing, and AI-powered business systems. Drafting know-how for "computer software-related inventions" is critical. See Examination Standards for AI Patents and AI Agent Patents Explained.

A.Yes. Under current practice the named inventor must be a natural person, but using generative AI as a tool in the development and inventive process poses no problem. For strategies to protect AI-assisted development, see How to Patent Inventions Built at AI Speed and Vibe Coding and Patents.

A.It is our service in which a patent attorney professionally verifies and revises an AI-drafted specification, holding down cost and time while safeguarding quality. Application documents left entirely to AI carry risks such as unduly narrow claim scope, so expert review is indispensable. See Why AI Drafting × Professional Revision Is the Strongest Combination and 5 Reasons Attorney Review Produces Stronger Rights.

A.There are candidates at every layer: UI and front-end innovations, API integration, back-end processing logic, pricing computation, data synchronization, and more. The efficient approach is to work backward from the question "which features would hurt most if copied?" See The SaaS Feature Map Explained and SaaS Patent Strategy Explained.

A.IT cases tend to involve more embodiment text and flowchart drawings, so fees do run somewhat higher than in mechanical fields. They can be controlled, however, through fee reduction programs and by focusing the scope of the description. For the cost breakdown and saving tips, see Software and System Patent Costs Explained.

A.We recommend a pre-launch freedom-to-operate (FTO) search. We map the patents relevant to each key feature, and for high-risk features we consider design changes or workarounds. Discovering a problem after launch is far more damaging. See our Complete Guide to FTO Searches for Apps.

A.Yes, source code is automatically protected as a copyrighted work. But copyright protects only the "expression" — it cannot protect the underlying processing ideas or algorithms. So the roles divide: patents to monopolize the idea, and copyright plus trade secrets against code copying. See How to Choose the Right Protection for Your Technology.

A.They can be. Japan has granted registrations such as a patent on technology for generating programs from prompts (Japanese Patent No. 7564601), and overseas, OpenAI, Anthropic, and others hold related patents. See Japan's AI Code Generation Patent Explained and A Survey of Recent Japanese Prompt-Related Patents.

A.Yes, we offer a dedicated startup support plan: use of fee reduction programs, building an IP portfolio with an IPO in view, preparing for VC-driven IP due diligence, and creating IP strategy slides for pitch decks — walking alongside you from founding through growth. Our principal has served as a director of a startup and excels at IP strategy from a management perspective.

A.Yes. Startups less than 10 years old with capital of JPY 300 million or less (among others) have their examination request fees and patent fees reduced to one-third, and SMEs to one-half (ask us about the detailed requirements). See Guide to the New Fee Reduction Program and Fee Reduction Basics.

A.They do. VCs look to IP to substantiate technical uniqueness and barriers to entry, and due diligence probes your filing status, employee invention regulations, and the ownership of rights in joint applications. See What Investors Look for in IP and 3 Benefits of Early Filing for IT Startups.

A.There are ways to secure a filing date while keeping initial costs down: limiting the filing to a single core technology, using fee reductions and subsidies, and timing the request for examination. A filing date is an asset that can never be recovered later. We will propose the leanest plan that fits your budget — please start with a free consultation.

A.Options include the foreign filing subsidies (JETRO, INPIT), IP-related subsidies from local governments, and the official fee reduction programs. The programs change from year to year, and we help you keep up with the latest information. See Fee Reductions and Support Programs [2026 Edition].

A.Not at all. You can outsource the entire IP function to us — from invention mining and filing decisions to deadline management and contract review. By using specialists only when and as needed, you build an IP capability without fixed costs. See Outsourcing Your IP Operations.

A."Before you go public" is the golden rule. The danger points are just before press releases, trade shows, crowdfunding, product launches, and fundraising — and we handle last-minute filings right before such events. See The 5 Best Times to Seek Advice.

A.Listing examinations and acquisition audits scrutinize the ownership of rights (employee inventions, outsourcing contracts), infringement risks over third-party rights, and how trademarks and domains are managed. Last-minute fixes are hard to pull off, so early, planned preparation is essential. We can start by taking stock of where you stand — please get in touch.