Your Japan-side IP professional

I assist foreign applicants and overseas IP professionals with obtaining patent protection in Japan.

Our services include:

• Japanese patent applications
• Examination and prosecution before the Japan Patent Office (JPO)
• Responses to Office Actions
• Amendments and written arguments
• Divisional applications
• Appeals against examiner's decisions
• Patent invalidation trials
• Patent infringement-related matters
• PCT national phase entry in Japan

I have particular experience in technically complex fields, including:

• Mechanical engineering
• Industrial machinery
• Semiconductor manufacturing equipment
• Robotics
• AI and software
• Business models
• Construction and civil engineering
• Medical machinery and equipment
• Mechatronics

For technically difficult inventions, I place particular emphasis on understanding the underlying technology and developing an appropriate prosecution strategy.

I also provide trademark services for foreign companies and overseas trademark professionals seeking protection in Japan.

Services include:

• Japanese trademark applications
• Trademark searches
• Examination and prosecution
• Responses to Office Actions
• Appeals against refusals
• Opposition proceedings
• Trademark invalidation trials
• Trademark cancellation trials
• Trademark infringement matters
• Domain name disputes related to trademarks

In particular, I have extensive experience with difficult trademark registration cases and refusals.

Where a trademark application encounters an objection from the JPO, I analyze the legal and factual issues and develop an appropriate response strategy rather than simply filing a standard response.

I also assist foreign applicants with design protection in Japan.

Services include:

• Japanese design applications
• Design searches
• Responses to Office Actions
• Design-related appeals and trials
• Design infringement analysis
• Design invalidation matters
• Design-related disputes

I have experience handling design issues involving products sold through e-commerce platforms and disputes concerning the scope of design rights.

If you have filed a PCT international application and wish to obtain patent protection in Japan, I can assist with the Japanese national phase procedure.

I can handle the necessary procedures before the JPO and continue prosecution in Japan after national phase entry.

The PCT system provides applicants with time to consider which countries or regions to pursue before entering the national phase, subject to the applicable rules and deadlines.

If you are considering Japan as an important market, I can discuss the Japanese prosecution strategy based on the technical content of your invention and your business objectives.

I welcome cooperation with foreign patent attorneys, patent agents, trademark attorneys, and law firms.

If you are looking for a Japanese IP professional to act on behalf of your client in Japan, I can serve as your local Japanese patent attorney.

You may continue to maintain the relationship with your client while I handle the Japanese procedures and communicate with the JPO.

I can also discuss prosecution strategy with overseas counsel when an application involves difficult technical or legal issues.

Your client remains your client.

My role is to provide reliable Japanese IP support as your Japan-side professional.

Entering the Japanese market involves more than simply filing a patent or trademark application.

A foreign company may need to consider:

• Patent protection for its technology
• Trademark protection for its brand
• Design protection for its products
• Japanese IP searches
• Freedom-to-operate considerations
• Protection against imitation
• Responses to third-party rights
• IP disputes in Japan

I can provide Japanese intellectual property support from the perspective of both IP rights and business strategy.

My goal is not simply to obtain registrations.

I want to help foreign companies protect their technology, brands and business activities in Japan.

My office is intentionally operated as a solo practice.

When you work with me, you communicate directly with the patent attorney responsible for your case.

There is no unnecessary transfer of your matter between sales staff, paralegals and multiple attorneys.

This structure allows me to examine each case personally and respond directly to technical and legal issues.

I have handled a wide range of difficult intellectual property matters, including refusals, appeals, trials, infringement matters and other IP disputes.

For complex cases, I believe that the quality of thinking is more important than the size of the organization.

Japanese IP practice can involve subtle issues of law, technology, language and business.

I therefore place particular importance on:

Understanding the technology.

Understanding the client's business.

Understanding the legal issue.

Developing a strategy before taking action.

Especially in difficult cases, a standard response is not always sufficient.

I examine the circumstances of each case and consider what strategy is most appropriate under Japanese law and JPO practice.

Communication with foreign clients and overseas IP professionals can be conducted in English.

For initial inquiries, please provide as much of the following information as possible:

• Applicant or company name
• Country
• Type of IP right
• Application or registration number, if available
• Priority date and application number, if applicable
• Relevant JPO documents
• Deadline
• Brief description of the matter
• Your requested services

I will review the information and respond regarding the possible scope of assistance and the next steps.

If you are looking for a Japanese patent attorney to handle intellectual property matters before the Japan Patent Office, please contact us.

We welcome inquiries from:

• Foreign companies
• Foreign patent attorneys
• Foreign trademark attorneys
• Foreign law firms
• Overseas IP professionals
• Foreign entrepreneurs

For Japanese patent, trademark and design matters, please contact Tokyo Sogo Intellectual Property Office.

Tokyo General Intellectual Property Office

Tokyo, Japan

Tomohiro Nishimura
Japanese Patent Attorney

Japanese Patent / Trademark / Design Services for Foreign Clients

Please contact us by e-mail with the details of your matter.

We look forward to working with you on your intellectual property matters in Japan.