Design

A design right protects new ideas relating to the visual appearance of products, buildings, graphical user interfaces, and other designs. 

Benefits of Obtaining a Design Right

  • Exclusive Rights
    A design right gives its owner the exclusive right to use the registered design.
  • Licensing Opportunities
    Design right owners may generate licensing revenue by granting licenses to other companies to use the registered design.
  • Protection Against Imitation
    A design right can be used to prevent competitors from copying or using the registered design without authorization.
  • Enhanced Business Competitiveness
    A registered design provides objective evidence that your design is unique and proprietary, which can help strengthen your competitive position and support your sales and marketing activities.

What to Prepare  

Please prepare any materials that show the shape or appearance of the product or other subject matter, such as a prototype, drawings, or photographs.

Costs for Obtaining a Design Right

The total cost varies depending on factors such as whether a design search is conducted and the number of drawings required. As a general guideline, the total cost from filing through obtaining a design right is approximately JPY 250,000 to JPY 400,000, including tax, our professional fees, and official fees payable to the Japan Patent Office (JPO). For further details, please see our Design Fee Schedule.

01
Consultation
(In person, by telephone, or by email)
02
Design Search
(Upon request)
03
Preparation of Design Application Documents
04
Review of the Application Documents by the Client
05
Filing of the Design Application with the Japan Patent Office (JPO)
06
Office Action
(An Office Action may not be issued if the application proceeds directly to registration.)
07
Submission of Arguments and/or Amendments
(Not required if no Office Action is issued.)
08
Decision of Registration / Decision of Refusal
09
Payment of Registration Fees
(Upon a decision of registration)
10
Design Right Registered