A mark that identifies the source of a product or service and distinguishes it from others.

📝 Examples: Text (company name/brand name), logo mark, figure, sound, three-dimensional shape, color, movement, etc.

The right to exclusive use of a registered trademark. You can prohibit the use of similar trademarks by others.

The rights period is 10 years from registration, and can be maintained semi-permanently with renewal.

Procedure to submit a document stating the trademark and designated goods/services to the Japan Patent Office in order to obtain trademark rights.

The range of goods (goods) or services (services) for which the trademark is used.

It is specified at the time of application, and trademark rights are effective only within that scope.

A group established by the Japan Patent Office to determine the similarity of goods and services.

Goods and services that belong to the same similarity group code are presumed to be similar.

Procedures for continuing registration when the term of trademark right (10 years) expires. Can be updated as many times as you want .

The concept of granting rights to trademarks that are actually used. It has been adopted in the United States and other countries.

The concept of granting trademark rights on the condition that it has been registered. Adopted in many countries including Japan.

The ability to distinguish one's own goods and services from those of others as a trademark. Essential requirements for trademark registration.

Common names, commonly used trademarks, names of places of origin, etc. are not recognized as having distinctiveness.

If a registered trademark has not been continuously used for 3 years or more, anyone can request the cancellation of the trademark registration under the trial system.

A system that allows anyone to file an opposition requesting cancellation of trademark registration within 2 months of the registration of the trademark right.

Notification when the examiner determines that the trademark registration application does not meet the registration requirements.

A trademark that is widely known in a certain region and among consumers. Even if you are not registered, you can receive a certain level of protection .

A trademark that is widely known nationwide. The scope of protection may extend to different product fields.

A mark that can be registered to extend the scope of protection of a well-known trademark and to prevent others from using similar trademarks.

Acts of using registered trademarks or similar trademarks for designated goods, services, or similar items without the permission of the trademark right holder.

A contract in which a trademark owner licenses the use of a trademark to another party.

The license includes exclusive use rights and regular use rights.

A phenomenon in which a trademark becomes so widely used that it comes to be recognized as a generic name for a product .

📝 Example: "Escalator" and "Stapler" were once trademarks but have become common names.

An international treaty established in 1989. A system that allows simultaneous filing in multiple member countries with one international application (Madpro). Effective for overseas trademark strategy.

A system in which local business cooperatives and other organizations can register a trademark that combines a region name and a product name as a collective trademark.

📝 Examples: "Yubari melon", "Kobe beef", etc.

The right to protect literary, academic, artistic, musical, and other creative works (works).

Unlike patents, they arise automatically at the time of creation and do not require registration. In principle, the term of protection is 70 years after the death of the author.

Law regulating unfair competition. We crack down on acts of unfair competition that cannot be detected by intellectual property rights, such as the sale of counterfeit products, infringement of trade secrets, and mislabeling of the country of origin.

The holder of intellectual property rights grants permission to others to use and implement such rights.

The holder of patent rights, design rights, etc., grants permission to others to implement such rights.

A general term for the rights that protect the moral interests of authors. Consists of right of publication, right to name display, right to maintain identity .

Unlike copyright property rights, cannot be transferred.

Information that meets the following three requirements based on the concept of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act.

• Confidentiality: Managed as secret
• Usefulness: Technical or commercial information useful for business activities
• Non-public knowledge: Not publicly known

📝 Examples: manufacturing know-how, customer list, blueprints, cost information, unique supplier information, etc.

A new protection target introduced in the 2018 revision of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act. We protect large amounts of data managed by electromagnetic methods provided to specific parties as part of our business from unauthorized acquisition and use.

A strategy to protect your business from multiple angles by combining multiple intellectual property systems such as patents, designs, trademarks, and copyrights.

Even if a single right is insufficient protection, combining multiple rights can create a strong defense network.

A contract in which multiple rights holders mutually license the use of their patents, etc.

It is often used in industries where technical fields are intricately intertwined to advance business while avoiding litigation risk.

The consideration paid by the licensee (license holder) to the licensor (right holder) in a license agreement.

There are multiple payment methods, including lump-sum payment (lump sum), running royalty (sales-linked), and minimum royalty (minimum guarantee).

Also known as “infringement prevention investigation.” Investigation to confirm whether new products and services violate the intellectual property rights of other companies before launching them on the market.

Inventions made by employees, etc. that belong to their job. As a general rule, rights belong to the employee who is the inventor. However, it is possible to have the rights inherited by the company according to work rules or contracts.

At the time of succession to a company, it is necessary to pay "reasonable profits" to employees.

Non-Disclosure Agreement. A contract entered into to prevent leakage to a third party when confidential information such as technical information or business information is disclosed to the other party .

Even for inventions that have not yet been patented, an NDA is required when discussing with a third party.

Issues regarding ownership of intellectual property rights for outputs generated by AI (including generation AI).

Under Japanese law, an AI product itself is not recognized as a work under copyright law if there is no creative contribution from a "person".