Intellectual Property Law in Japan

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Overview of Japanese Intellectual Property Law

Japanese intellectual property law rests on five principal statutes: the Patent Act (Tokkyo Ho, Act No. 121 of 1959), the Copyright Act (Chosakuken Ho, Act No. 48 of 1970), the Trademark Act (Shohyo Ho, Act No. 127 of 1959), the Design Act (Isho Ho, Act No. 125 of 1959), and the Unfair Competition Prevention Act (Fusei Kyoso Boshi Ho, Act No. 47 of 1993). The Japan Patent Office (Tokkyocho, “JPO”), an agency of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), administers the registration systems for patents, utility models, designs, and trademarks. The Intellectual Property High Court (Chiteki Zaisan Kotō Saibansho, established 2005) hears appeals from the JPO and infringement litigation from district courts, centralizing IP expertise and promoting doctrinal coherence. Japan is also a signatory to the principal international IP treaties, including the Paris Convention (1899), the Berne Convention (1899), the Patent Cooperation Treaty (1978), and the TRIPS Agreement (1995).

Intellectual Property on ExcellentWiki - Legal Encyclopedia

Intellectual Property Law in Japan

Overview of Japanese Intellectual Property Law