特許や実用新案、意匠、商標の出願から更新管理までの権利申請維持業務はもとより紛争になった場合の交渉や訴訟・仲裁等まで幅広く対応しています。

知的財産業務

Services related to Intellectual Property Rights

人類は日常の生活や仕事の中で、色々と知恵を凝らし、生活をより豊かに、そして便利にしようと試みます。つまり、道具、機械などを発明することで、生活をより便利にするとともに、音楽、絵画などの芸術品を創り、生活をより豊かにします。これ等は人間の知恵の産物であり、貴重な財産でもあります。知的財産権制度は、人類の知的創造活動によって生み出されたものを、創作した人の財産として保護するための制度です。
ユニバーサル特許商標事務所の知的財産業務は、弁理士・熟練した専門スタッフが事務所創設以来50年間の歴史のなかで蓄積したノウハウを惜しむことなく駆使し、一丸となって案件に対応する為、他所ではない極めて高度なサービスを提供しています。 ユニバーサル特許商標事務所の知的財産業務は、特許、実用新案、意匠、商標の出願、維持及び更新管理との権利申請維持業務はもちろんのこと、紛争予防のための問題検討、契約や各種社内規則の作成、紛争になった場合の交渉、訴訟・仲裁・調停手続における代理まで、幅広く対応しています。ユニバーサル特許商標事務所の知的財産業務は国内はもとより外国の数多くのクライアントから非常に高い評価をいただいております。

Human beings, in their daily lives and work, try hard to come up with ideas and make their lives more satisfying and convenient. Invention of tools and machines makes their lives more convenient and creation of artworks such as music and paintings enriches their lives. These are fruits of human wisdom and precious properties. The system of intellectual property rights is a system for protecting products of intellectual, creational activities of human beings by recognizing them as property belonging to those who created them.
With regard to intellectual property, we provide excellent services unmatched by others. Our patent attorneys and experienced staff work as one team and unsparingly utilize the know-how accumulated during the 50 years since our office was founded. We deal with wide-ranging issues, such as application, maintenance and renewal of intellectual properties―patent, utility model, design, and trademark―as well as examination of problems to prevent conflicts, preparation of contracts and company rules, and, if a conflict arises, negotiations and representation in lawsuits, arbitration, and conciliation. Our services in intellectual property-related areas have been very well received by many clients in and out of the country.

特許権・実用新案権Patent and Utility Model Rights

A patent is a set of rights, which is granted by the state to the inventor of a useful invention or his/her successor, of exclusive use of the invention for a fixed period (20 years from the patent application) in exchange for public disclosure. Patents are granted with respect to inventions which satisfy requirements such as industrial applicability, novelty and inventive step. Utility models are granted without examination of the invention according to these requirements.
To obtain a patent, it is necessary to follow such procedures as application, formality examination of application documents, laying open of application, substantive examination, amendment, decision to grant a patent, and registration of the establishment of a patent, and it usually takes one to two years from the application to the obtaining of patent though it also depends on the technical field of the invention. There are two ways to obtain a patent in a foreign country. One is to apply for a patent in the foreign country claiming the priority of the application in Japan under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. The other is to file an international application first and proceed to enter the national phase.
We have accumulated rich experiences regarding patent rights and we serve a lot of individual and corporate clients both in Japan and abroad.

意匠Design

Design rights are industrial property rights with respect to creation of designs of shapes, patterns, and colors of articles having an external appearance that creates an aesthetic impression through the eye. The protection period is 20 years from the date of registration of its establishment (in the case of registration in Japan). Obtaining a design right is essential for protecting interests of clients who have an excellent design that increases added-values of their products, for it makes it possible to prevent copying of the design in and out of Japan and to bring wrongdoers to justice.
Regarding design rights, we provide services such as pre-application survey, application for registration, and other procedures for obtaining design rights, and we also help make appropriate responses against infringement of obtained rights. Further, we support our clients who export their products and services abroad. We firmly protect our clients’ interests against infringement and imitation by providing services for obtaining rights in foreign countries in close cooperation with patent and law firms in countries and areas around the world.

商標Trademark

Establishing and protecting its brand image is essential for a company wishing to protect its company image and develop future strategies. Products of poor quality, carrying the company’s brand and illegally circulating in domestic and overseas markets would damage the company’s reputation greatly. To avoid this, it is necessary to defend oneself by obtaining design rights. The scope of design registration has been broadened since April 2015 to include sound, light, position, and motion in addition to characters, figures and three-dimensional shapes.
Regarding trademarks, we provide services concerning pre-application survey, application for registration, and other procedures for obtaining design rights, as well as maintenance of the registration and response against infringement of obtained rights.
Further, we firmly protect our clients’ interests against infringement and imitation, by providing services for obtaining rights in countries around the world, in close cooperation with patent and law firms overseas.

著作権Copyright

Computer programs, music, films, animations, novels, essays, paintings, illustrations, comics, plays and other literary and art works are increasingly shared through the Internet and becoming common cultural assets for the people around the world. It is all the more important to protect copyrights for such works.
We protect interests of right-holders by preparing contracts and conducting negotiations regarding transfer and licensing of copyrights in Japan and abroad and, in case of acts of infringement, giving warnings and taking legal measures including bringing an action for damages.

不正競争防止Unfair Competition Prevention

All business obstructions tantamount to unfair competition, such as piracy and freeriding on brands, have to be addressed with determination. In the time of internationalization, diversification, and fluidization, there have been reported many cases of leaked business secrets vital to corporate management including clients and technology information. The Unfair Competition Prevention Act provides for protection of wide-ranging forms of rights, making unfair competition a very important area also in litigation: lawsuits invoking this Act account for nearly one fourth of all intellectual property related cases. For example, it is possible to have imitation goods excluded from the market if it is within three years after the first placement of the original goods in the market.
In the case of infringement on our clients’ interests by others involved in acts of unfair competition, we support our clients’ interests to the maximum extent by taking legal actions such as request for injunction and request for damages.

種苗(育成権)Plant Varieties (Breeders’ Rights)

With the growth of world population, agriculture is becoming more and more important. Intellectual property rights called plant breeder’s rights can be obtained with respect to an improved or newly developed variety of plant.
We own a farm for ourselves to conduct plant cultivation according to the requirements for seeds and seedlings registration, and we can provide all services necessary for obtaining plant breeder’s rights. We also offer adequate services for facilitating transfer of rights and licensing in Japan as well as abroad.
Geographical Indication

原産地表示Geographical Indication

Geographical indication, also called appellations of origin, is a kind of intellectual property and protected under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. If accompanied by prestige and reputation, the agricultural products can become an asset of the region as a whole.
To promote interests of producers and protect trust of consumers, the Act on Protecting the Names of Specific Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Products (Geographical Indication Act) was enacted in June 2014, which provided for the registration of geographical indication at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. In addition, the Trademark Act was amended in 2005, allowing regional organization trademarks to be registered.

ライセンシングLicensing

Licensing (giving permission to work and use invention) means that the owner of intellectual property grants license to a third party to work his invention and receives license fee (royalty) while the licensee can exploit the intellectual property and make products. Licensing is the granting of right to work the invention and not a transfer of intellectual property.
We provide appropriate services on transfer of rights or licensing not only in Japan but also abroad and support our clients in maximizing the values of their precious property.

知的財産権に対する鑑定・評価・指導Survey, Appraisal, Evaluation, and Advice on Intellectual Property Rights

We offer concrete advice, for venture businesses and leading medium-sized companies that are developing unique technologies and products, on how to develop strategies on intellectual property rights and how to acquire and exercise rights.
Besides, for venture capitals and financial institutions considering to invest in such ventures, we evaluate and appraise the intellectual property owned by the ventures and give advice.
We also conduct surveys on patent, copyright, and trademark infringements in Japan and abroad.

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