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Industrial Design Registration in Japan
How to Legally Register and Protect Your Design in Japan
Industrial design registration is the legal tool that protects the external appearance of your products: shape, lines, contours, colors, and ornamentation. If you need to register an industrial design to avoid copying and ensure exclusivity in the Japanese market, we accompany you throughout the industrial design registration process.
Industrial Design Registration in Japan
Why register your industrial design in Japan?
Design is often the deciding factor in purchasing. Good industrial design protection allows you to differentiate yourself from the competition, avoid imitations and increase the value of your brand and your products.
By registering an industrial design in Japan, you obtain an exclusive right over the aesthetic appearance of your creation, which allows you to prevent third parties from using it without authorization. We advise you on how to register an industrial design, the requirements for registering an industrial design and the most appropriate strategy according to your business model and the country where you want to protect it.
What does our Industrial Design Registration service in Japan include?
Novelty and registrability analysis
We evaluate whether the design meets the requirements of novelty and uniqueness required by law.
Preparing Views and Images
Advice on the correct way to present the views for a solid industrial design, official registration.
Design Classification
We define the appropriate class according to the Locarno Classification and the use of the product.
Drafting and Submission of the Application
We draft the application and manage the industrial design registration online or in person depending on the office.
Follow-up and response to observations
We answer formal or substantive objections issued by the industrial property office.
Maintenance and monitoring of rights
Control of expirations, renewals and accompaniment in the event of possible conflicts or infractions.
Cost of Industrial Design Registration in Japan
The cost of industrial design registration varies depending on:
- Number of designs included
- Number of views/graphs
- Official fees and professional fees
We offer a clear quote before starting the process, detailing official fees, fees and stages of the process, so you know exactly how much you are going to invest in the protection of your design.
Industrial Design Registration Process, Requirements, and Cost
Initial Design Analysis
Study of novelty compared to previous designs and products on the market.
Requirements for registering an industrial design
- New or original design.
- Not have been publicly disclosed
- Clear description of the product and its application.
Application preparation and submission
- Graphic or photographic views in the form required by the office.
- Data of the owner and the author, if applicable.
Formal examination and publication
- Review of documentation and compliance with formal requirements.
- Publication in the official gazette (and deadlines for competitive examinations if applicable).
Merits review (by country)
Analysis of novelty and uniqueness by the office.
Resolution and granting
Granting of registration and issuance of the title.
Maintenance of rights
Periodic renewals (usually every 5 years up to the maximum allowed).
Our Services
Legal Advice on Industrial Designs
Our Industrial Design services offer expert legal advice and protection for your visual and ornamental creations. As intellectual property lawyers, we understand the importance of safeguarding the aesthetic appearance of your products.
We work closely with you to assess the eligibility of your designs, ensuring they meet the legal requirements for protection. In addition, we draft and file robust and strategic industrial design applications, ensuring adequate protection and granting you exclusive rights to your visual creations.
The goal is to ensure that your industrial designs are effectively protected and comply with the legal requirements necessary for successful commercialization. In the event of disputes or violations, our team of lawyers is prepared to defend your rights and take the necessary legal action.
Trust our Industrial Designs services to protect your visual creations and strengthen your position in the market. We are committed to providing you with customized and strategic legal solutions to maximize the value and exclusivity of your industrial designs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Industrial Design Registration
What is an industrial design?
It is the external appearance of a product or part of it (shape, lines, contours, colors, texture, ornamentation). It does not protect the technical function, but the visual aspect.
Why should I register an industrial design in Japan?
Because it gives you an exclusive right of exploitation. Without registration, it is much more difficult to act on copies or imitations, and your position in the market is weakened.
How to register an industrial design in Japan?
The process of registering industrial design in Japan includes: novelty analysis, preparation of hearings, classification, official presentation, follow-up and eventual response to observations. We manage this entire process for you.
What are the requirements to register an industrial design in Japan?
That the design is new, that it has not been disclosed in a way that is incompatible with Japanese regulations and that it can be represented graphically through clear views of the product.
Can I register an industrial design online in Japan?
In many jurisdictions yes, through official platforms. Our studio can carry out the industrial design registration online in the countries where it is enabled, or in person when necessary.
In which countries do you provide industrial design registration service?
Industrial Design Registration in Argentina
Industrial Design Registration in Brazil
Industrial Design Registration in Chile
Industrial Design Registration in Paraguay
Industrial Design Registration in Bolivia
Industrial Design Registration in Peru
Industrial Design Registration in Colombia
Industrial Design Registration in Ecuador
Industrial Design Registration in Venezuela
Industrial Design Registration in Mexico
Industrial Design Registration in the United States
Industrial Design Registration in Canada
Industrial Design Registration in Spain
Industrial Design Registration in France
Industrial Design Registration in Germany
Industrial Design Registration in Italy
Industrial Design Registration in the United Kingdom
Industrial Design Registration in Portugal
Industrial Design Registration in Switzerland
Industrial Design Registration in Honduras
Industrial Design Registration in El Salvador
Industrial Design Registration in Nicaragua
Industrial Design Registration in Costa Rica
Industrial Design Registration in Panama
Industrial Design Registration in Belize
Industrial Design Registration in the Caribbean
Industrial Design Registration in the Dominican Republic
Industrial Design Registration in Cuba
Industrial Design Registration in Jamaica
Industrial Design Registration in Trinidad and Tobago
Industrial Design Registration in the Bahamas
Industrial Design Registration in Barbados
Industrial Design Registration in Haiti
Industrial Design Registration in Antigua and Barbuda
Industrial Design Registration in Saint Lucia
Industrial Design Registration in Grenada
Industrial Design Registration in Saint Kitts and Nevis
Industrial Design Registration in Dominica
Industrial Design Registration in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Industrial Design Registration in Guyana
Industrial Design Registration in Suriname
Industrial Design Registration in Belgium
Industrial Design Registration in the Netherlands
Industrial Design Registration in Luxembourg
Industrial Design Registration in Ireland
Industrial Design Registration in Denmark
Industrial Design Registration in Sweden
Industrial Design Registration in Finland
Industrial Design Registration in Austria
Industrial Design Registration in Poland
Industrial Design Registration in the Czech Republic
Industrial Design Registration in Slovakia
Industrial Design Registration in Hungary
Industrial Design Registration in Romania
Industrial Design Registration in Bulgaria
Industrial Design Registration in Croatia
Industrial Design Registration in Slovenia
Industrial Design Registration in Greece
Industrial Design Registration in Malta
Industrial Design Registration in Cyprus
Industrial Design Registration in Estonia
Industrial Design Registration in Latvia
Industrial Design Registration in Lithuania
Industrial Design Registration in Norway
Industrial Design Registration in Iceland
Industrial Design Registration in Liechtenstein
Industrial Design Registration in Ukraine
Industrial Design Registration in Serbia
Industrial Design Registration in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Industrial Design Registration in Albania
Industrial Design Registration in North Macedonia
Industrial Design Registration in Moldova
Industrial Design Registration in Montenegro
Industrial Design Registration in Morocco
Industrial Design Registration in China
Industrial Design Registration in Japan
Industrial Design Registration in South Korea
Industrial Design Registration in Taiwan
Industrial Design Registration in Mongolia
Industrial Design Registration in India
Industrial Design Registration in Pakistan
Industrial Design Registration in Bangladesh
Industrial Design Registration in Sri Lanka
Industrial Design Registration in Nepal
Industrial Design Registration in Bhutan
Industrial Design Registration in the Maldives
Industrial Design Registration in Indonesia
Industrial Design Registration in the Philippines
Industrial Design Registration in Malaysia
Industrial Design Registration in Singapore
Industrial Design Registration in Thailand
Industrial Design Registration in Vietnam
Industrial Design Registration in Cambodia
Industrial Design Registration in Laos
Industrial Design Registration in Myanmar
Industrial Design Registration in Brunei
Industrial Design Registration in the United Arab Emirates
Industrial Design Registration in Saudi Arabia
Industrial Design Registration in Qatar
Industrial Design Registration in Kuwait
Industrial Design Registration in Oman
Industrial Design Registration in Bahrain
Industrial Design Registration in Israel
Industrial Design Registration in Jordan
Industrial Design Registration in Lebanon
Industrial Design Registration in Turkey
Industrial Design Registration in Iran
Industrial Design Registration in Iraq
Industrial Design Registration in Russia
Industrial Design Registration in Australia
Industrial Design Registration in New Zealand
Industrial Design Registration in the Pacific Islands
Industrial Design Registration in Papua New Guinea
Industrial Design Registration in Fiji
Industrial Design Registration in Samoa
Industrial Design Registration in Tonga
Industrial Design Registration in Vanuatu
Industrial Design Registration in Kiribati
Industrial Design Registration in Micronesia
Industrial Design Registration in the Marshall Islands
Industrial Design Registration in the Solomon Islands
Industrial Design Registration in Tuvalu
Is an industrial design what you need to protect in Japan?
An industrial design protects the appearance of a product, but it does not cover the name under which it is sold, the technical solution that makes it work or the creative work. Trademarks, patents and designs are handled by the JPO, each with its own file and fee. Copyright is not registered with the JPO: it arises with the work, without any formalities.
Trademark
Protects the name, logo or sign that identifies your business and sets it apart from competitors. In Japan it is registered with the JPO, per class of the Nice Classification, and the cost is paid in two stages: on filing and on registration.
Example: your company name or your product logo.
Term: 10 years, renewable indefinitely for equal periods.
Register a trademark in JapanPatent of invention
Protects a new technical solution with an inventive step and industrial application: a mechanism, a process or a product with a function.
Example: a locking system or a manufacturing method.
Register a patent in JapanCopyright
Protects works: texts, music, software, photographs or audiovisual works. In Japan it arises upon creation and requires no registration; there is a voluntary registration with the Agency for Cultural Affairs to record certain facts, such as the date of first publication.
Example: the code of an app or an illustrated catalog.
Protect copyright in JapanIs your trademark already registered in Japan? Registration lasts 10 years and renewal costs JPY 43,600 per class, or JPY 22,800 if paid in 5-year periods. If the expiry date passes, there is a 6-month grace period with a surcharge. And use matters: a trademark not used in Japan for 3 consecutive years can be cancelled at anyone's request.
Who We Are
From Uruguay, to the world
Since 1930, at Dubourg we’ve been helping companies and entrepreneurs protect what sets them apart most: their brand. We work from Montevideo with clients around the world, supporting them at every stage of their growth—from the initial registration to entering new markets.
One firm, many countries
It all starts with registering your trademark where your business currently operates. When the time comes to expand, our network of international correspondents extends that protection to other countries—all through a single, coordinated process managed from here and at the best possible rates. Those same colleagues entrust us with their trademark filings in Uruguay, a relationship built on trust over decades.
Clarity from Day One
Uruguay is known for its stability and clear rules, and that’s how we work, too: transparent quotes, with no hidden costs or surprises.
Security Before Every Step
Before moving forward, we search intellectual property databases worldwide to verify that your trademark is available. That way, you make informed decisions—not ones based on uncertainty.
What Our Clients Say
Entrepreneurs and innovators in search of legal protection for their creations.
Are you in need of help?
Don’t risk your valuable work without legal protection. Contact me today for a personalized consultation. Together, we will ensure that your intellectual property is properly registered and protected, giving you peace of mind and allowing you to enjoy the fruits of your creativity.
