---
title: "JPO Trademark Appeal Procedure: Foreign Counsel Guide to Refusal Appeal"
description: Complete guide to JPO trademark appeal procedure for foreign counsel. Covers Appeal Board (审判), IP High Court appeal, deadlines, success rates, cost, and strategy.
---

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JPO TRADEMARK APPEAL

# Appealing Trademark Refusals in Japan

Foreign Counsel Guide to Appeal Board and IP High Court

When JPO's examiner issues a final rejection on your trademark application, your remaining option is appeal. This guide explains the Japan trademark appeal procedure — from the JPO Appeal Board (拒絶查定不服審判) to potential IP High Court appeal. Covers timeline, cost, success rates, and strategic considerations for foreign counsel.

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## Why Appeal Matters

Approximately **50–65%** of well-prepared appeals at the JPO Appeal Board succeed in overturning the examiner's final rejection. Appeals are particularly valuable when:

**1. Substantial evidence** can be presented (especially acquired distinctiveness)  
**2. Letter of Consent obtained after the response deadline**  
**3. Examiner made factual or legal errors**  
**4. Recent case law supports your position**  
**5. The mark has strategic commercial value**

## Two-Stage Appeal System

| Stage | Forum | Deadline | Decision Time |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **1st Appeal** | JPO Appeal Board (拒絶查定不服審判) | **3 months from final rejection** | 6–18 months |
| **2nd Appeal** | IP High Court (知的財産高等裁判所) | **30 days from Appeal Board decision** | 12–24 months |
| **3rd Appeal (limited)** | Supreme Court (最高裁判所) | **30 days from IP High Court decision** | Discretionary; rare |

## Stage 1: JPO Appeal Board (拒絶查定不服審判)

The first-instance appeal is heard by the JPO Appeal Board — a separate body from the examination division. The Board consists of three administrative judges (审判官) with deeper expertise than examiners.

### Filing Process

1. File "Request for Appeal" (审判請求) at JPO within 3 months of final rejection  
2. Pay appeal fee (JPY 49,500 base + JPY 5,500 per class)  
3. Submit written argument (typically 30–60 pages)  
4. Optional: request oral hearing  
5. Optional: submit amendments (limited scope)

### Oral Hearing

**Oral hearing recommended**: Oral hearings significantly increase appeal success rates. Direct dialogue with the Appeal Board allows clarification of complex arguments. Hearing duration: 1–2 hours. Conducted in Japanese (we attend and represent you).

### Outcomes

**Outcome 1: Reversal (allowance)**: ~50% of well-prepared appeals. Mark proceeds to publication and registration.

**Outcome 2: Affirmance**: ~40% of cases. Original rejection maintained. Can appeal to IP High Court.

**Outcome 3: Reversal with amendment requirement**: ~10% of cases. Allowance subject to claim/scope modification.

## Stage 2: IP High Court (知的財産高等裁判所)

If the Appeal Board affirms rejection, foreign counsel can appeal to the IP High Court, Japan's specialized court for IP matters.

### Process

1. File appeal within **30 days** of Appeal Board decision  
2. Pay court filing fee (proportional to case value)  
3. Submit written brief  
4. Oral arguments (typically 1–2 sessions)  
5. Court decision

### Standard of Review

IP High Court reviews limited grounds:

- Procedural errors in JPO Appeal Board proceedings  
- Material errors of fact  
- Material errors of law  
- Failure to consider important evidence

**Limited standard of review**: IP High Court does NOT review the case de novo. Success rate at IP High Court: ~20–35%. Best suited for cases with clear errors in Appeal Board reasoning.

## Fee Schedule

| Service | Fee (USD) |
| --- | --- |
| Initial appeal assessment | Free |
| Appeal Board petition + written argument (basic) | $3,000–5,500 |
| Appeal Board petition with extensive evidence | $5,500–9,500 |
| Oral hearing preparation + attendance | $1,500–3,000 |
| IP High Court appeal preparation | $8,000–15,000 |
| IP High Court oral arguments + attendance | $2,500–5,000 |
| Supreme Court appeal (rare) | $15,000+ |

**Strategic ROI**: Appeal costs are relatively high but pay off when the trademark has substantial commercial value. We help foreign counsel calculate ROI based on the mark's expected revenue in Japan.

## Strategic Considerations

**When to appeal**:

1. Substantial commercial value (will justify costs)  
2. Strong legal/factual grounds for reversal  
3. New evidence available (especially LoC obtained after deadline)  
4. Recent case law supports your position  
5. Examiner clearly misapplied test

**When NOT to appeal**:

1. Marginal commercial value  
2. Examiner's reasoning is clearly correct  
3. No new evidence or arguments  
4. Re-filing a modified application is cheaper  
5. Alternative strategy (e.g., narrower mark, different goods) is available

## Success Rate Statistics

| Appeal Type | Approximate Success Rate |
| --- | --- |
| Article 3(1)(3) appeal (distinctiveness) | 50–60% |
| Article 4(1)(11) appeal (similar mark) | 40–55% |
| Article 4(1)(15) appeal (likelihood of confusion) | 45–55% |
| Multi-ground appeals (with strong evidence) | 55–70% |
| IP High Court appeal (from Appeal Board) | 20–35% |

---

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---

 

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