Consideration of expanding your business overseas

【ArticleNo. 02_0001】

Consideration of expanding your business overseas

Thank you for your reference to this site and this article.  Regarding expanding your business overseas, we recommend filing a trademark application in Japan.  This is because that there are cautionary points of expanding your business overseas.  For example, cautionary points are as shown below:

              1. Whether or not your products and services are accepted in Japan?               2. Whether or not you are able to make money from your own products and services?               3. Whether or not your products and services are legally able to sell in Japan?

Specifically, the above cautionary point “3” should be considered because it causes some problems.

Case Study: Exhibiting at a local exhibition in Japan

Let's assume that you have exhibited your products and the like at the exhibition and receive a good response.  The number of sales has gradually started to rise, and you would believe that it’s a good start.  However, you have unexpectedly received a warning letter indicating a trademark infringement.  The letter discloses that your actions are illegal to use the company's trademark (store name or logo, service name, product name, etc.).

You are needed to address problems indicated in the letter.  The following items (1) to (4) can be proposed as a method for substantially addressing those problems:

              (1). Confirming whether or not, now, a trademark is registered, which is indicated in the letter.               (2). Confirming whether or not the registered trademark is the same as or similarity to your store name or logo and the like.               (3). Changing the store name or logo, service name, product name, etc.               (4). Obtaining license agreement from owner of the trademark and, if needed, paying royalty to them.

If the items (1) and (2) were not effective and you considered (3) changing the store name or logo, service name, product name and the like, while you would also think that those costs are very high and, if possible, would like to use the store name and the like as it is, i.e., without the change.  However, that is too difficult to be realistic due to the necessary of owner’s acceptance for the use of trademark.

In this case, you would have no choice but to select the above item (3) in the end.

Filing a trademark application with JPO

In the above case study, It is recommended to file a trademark application with JPO.  This is because that your products and services are legally able to sell in Japan when your trademark is registered.  Furthermore, you do not have to worry about the above problems and the above items.

Brand Shogun

Brand Shogun Services enables you to file your trademark application with Japan Patent Office (JPO) at minimum cost and to register it because omitting a similar trademark search service and personnel costs.  For example, you can file a lot of trademark applications at a reasonable price.  Furthermore, Brand Shogun has Japan patent attorneys who are familiar with Japan Patent Article and Prosecution against JPO.  Therefore, Brand Shogun is the most recommendable service of a trademark application and please consider that.

【ArticleNo. 02_0001】