Japan has been exposed to intensifying economic competition with the fast-growing Asian countries, not to mention the Western countries. In light of this situation, there has been a growing trend toward high value added products. This trend is then heightening right consciousness to protection of intellectual property in connection with such productions. In addition, design itself that appeals to the eye directly and plainly, so it is one of the most effective means to add high value to products. Making strategic use of design is highly expected to differentiate products, especially in the markets that are flooded by alternative products, or in the industrial fields that have matured technologies.
As for design protection in Japan, there is an independent law, the Design Law. This law allows a design of an article which fulfills the requirements to be registered, and such a registered design is protected for 20 years maximum by an exclusive right. The expertly trained patent and design attorneys in ASAMURA PATENT OFFICE, p.c. will strongly assist clients in obtaining Japanese design rights.
(1) Consultation
The Design Law protection ranges from the design of an article to the design of a part of an article, the design of a set of articles, and the design which is changeable based on the function possessed by the art. Recently, the Design Law was amended and the subject of protection has been expanded. If a client has a design which is currently being considered whether to be protected in Japan, they should feel free to contact ASAMURA PATENT OFFICE, p.c.. The patent and design attorneys will offer appropriate advice on rights-based use of the design protection system.
(2) Search
It would be judicious to search prior registered designs before proceeding to file a design application not only for exploring the possibility of registration but also for identifying others’ prior design rights potentially conflicting with a design to be applied.
ASAMURA PATENT OFFICE, p.c.will support all searches for prior registered designs in all fields.
(3) Application
ASAMURA PATENT OFFICE, p.c.provides clients with total support to obtain strong design rights; ASAMURA PATENT OFFICE, p.c.’S support ranges from identifying the design object of protection, selecting the most appropriate type of application and making drawings to completing filing the design application.
(4) Response to official actions
ASAMURA PATENT OFFICE, p.c.assists clients in responding to official actions with preliminary advice according to the stage of development, i.e., notification of refusal, decision of refusal etc.
(5) Subsequent management of registration
ASAMURA PATENT OFFICE, p.c.provides sure and detailed after-registration services. ASAMURA PATENT OFFICE, p.c., for example, gives clients timely previous notice of subsequent payments of the annual fee after the 3rd year from registration, and promptly proceeds with the payments. In addition, ASAMURA PATENT OFFICE, p.c.supports all kinds of registration applications such as recordal of change of name and/or address, recordal of merger, assignment, license, agreement etc.
(6) Miscellaneous
ASAMURA PATENT OFFICE, p.c.handles design invalidation trials; in the case a client files an invalidation trial against another person’s design registration, and vice versa.
ASAMURA PATENT OFFICE, p.c.’S experienced patent and design attorneys also give clients expert opinions on all types of issues.
