File a Japan Patent — JPO Invention & Design Patents
Japan Patent Office filings prosecuted by Japanese Patent Attorneys (Benrishi). Fixed two-step pricing with English-first filing, Japanese translation, and Accelerated Examination eligibility analysis.
- Filed and prosecuted by Japanese Patent Attorneys (Benrishi)
- English filing accepted with 14-month translation deadline
- Accelerated Examination — first office action in 2–3 months for many SMEs
- World's third-largest patent jurisdiction; rigorous high-quality grants
Step One — Strategy & Search
Start with a fixed-fee engagement to validate patentability before committing to full drafting.
- JPO patentability search and clearance assessment
- Direct vs PCT national phase recommendation
- Accelerated Examination eligibility analysis (free for many SMEs)
- Step Two ($4,800) only if you proceed to drafting
"Japan rewards speed and quality. JPO Accelerated Examination is free for most SMEs and university applicants — we use it on nearly every Japanese filing."
GTC Patents Team
Senior patent counsel · Japan
Why File Your Japan Patent with Us?
Senior IP professionals, fixed pricing, and operational discipline — built for inventors, startups, and growth-stage companies.
Japanese Patent Attorneys (Benrishi)
Every Japanese application is prosecuted by Benrishi admitted by the Japan Patent Attorneys Association. We coordinate end-to-end — no separate Japanese counsel needed.
Fixed Two-Step Pricing
Step One ($699) for clearance and Accelerated Examination eligibility. Step Two ($4,800) for full English drafting, Japanese translation, and JPO filing.
Accelerated Examination Specialist
JPO Accelerated Examination is free of charge for SMEs, universities, and applicants with corresponding foreign applications. We file the petition with every eligible application — typically reducing time-to-first-office-action from 12+ months to 2–3 months.
JPO-Experienced Patent Translation
We use Japanese patent translators with deep technical expertise — not generic legal translators. Translation quality directly affects examination outcomes in Japan.
Dedicated Case Management
Translation deadline (14/16 months), RFE deadline (3 years), and annual maintenance fees are docketed and surfaced in your client dashboard.
"Patents are 20-year commercial assets, not paperwork. Our job is to draft claims broad enough to be valuable and tight enough to survive — and to give you the budget visibility to plan your portfolio properly."
GTC Patents Team
Senior patent counsel · Japan
Japan Patent Pricing — Two-step engagement
Same simple model we use in every country. Validate patentability before committing to full drafting.
Strategy & Search
- JPO patentability search and clearance assessment
- Strategy: direct JP filing vs PCT national phase, Accelerated Examination eligibility
- Translation cost forecast and Benrishi (Japanese Patent Attorney) coordination plan
- Engagement letter & roadmap (Step Two only if you proceed)
Drafting & Filing
- Full specification & claims drafted to JPO standards (initially in English)
- Coordinated filing through Japanese Patent Attorney (Benrishi)
- Japanese translation by JPO-experienced patent translators
- Filing of Request for Examination (within 3-year window)
Japanese translation ($0.18–$0.25/word) and JPO official fees are pass-through at cost.
Total Cost of Japan Patent Filing
All-in budget scenarios from filing to grant. Government fees are passed through at cost from the patent office; our professional fees are fixed.
Japan Utility (standard, accelerated)
Most SME and foreign-corresponding applications qualify for free Accelerated Exam
| Step One — Strategy & Search | $699 |
| Step Two — Drafting & JPO Filing | $4,800 |
| Japanese Translation (~6,000 words) | ~$1,200 |
| JPO Filing & Exam Fees | ~$650 |
Japan Utility (standard, no acceleration)
Large-entity applicants without acceleration eligibility
| Step One — Strategy & Search | $699 |
| Step Two — Drafting & JPO Filing | $4,800 |
| Japanese Translation | ~$1,200 |
| JPO Filing & Exam Fees | ~$650 |
Japan Design Patent (Isho)
Ornamental appearance, single design (partial designs now allowed)
| Drafting & JPO Filing | $1,900 |
| Japanese Translation (drawings only) | ~$200 |
| JPO Filing Fee | ~$140 |
Included in our professional fees
- JPO patentability search and Step One strategy memo
- Accelerated Examination eligibility analysis & petition drafting
- Full English specification, claims, abstract, drawings
- Patent-specialized Japanese translation
- JPO filing through Benrishi counsel
- Annual maintenance fee reminders
Office Action responses, oral hearings, and Trial for Invalidation (Mukoshinpan) defense are quoted separately when applicable. JPO maintenance fees (from year 4) are pass-through at cost.
How We Compare on Japan Patent Filings
Registered representation at fixed pricing — without the boutique-firm hourly bill or the "templated" online-filing tradeoffs.
| Feature |
Best Value
GTC
|
DIY / online filer | Boutique IP firm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step One (search & strategy) | $699 fixed | Not available | $2,000 – $4,000 |
| Step Two (drafting & JPO filing) | $4,800 fixed | Foreign filing not practical | $8,000 – $15,000 |
| Benrishi (Japanese Patent Attorney) | |||
| Accelerated Examination petition | Often extra fee | ||
| JPO-experienced Japanese translation | Generic only | Often outsourced | |
| Client dashboard & deadline tracking |
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Japan Patent Prosecution Lifecycle
From the day we sign Step One to the day your patent grants — typical timeline: 24 – 48 months to grant.
Step One — Search & Eligibility
JPO patentability search, Accelerated Examination eligibility analysis, direct vs PCT national phase recommendation, and engagement letter.
Step Two — English Drafting
Full specification and claims drafted in English to JPO standards. Inventor reviews and approves before translation begins.
JPO Filing (English)
Filed in English through Benrishi counsel. Filing receipt and application number issued. 14-month Japanese translation deadline begins.
Japanese Translation & RFE
Patent-specialized Japanese translation submitted within 14 months. Request for Examination filed (within 3 years; usually filed early with Accelerated Examination petition).
First Office Action (Accelerated)
With Accelerated Examination, first JPO office action typically issues 2–3 months after RFE. Without acceleration, expect 12+ months.
Examination & Grant
Office Action responses are filed within ~60 days (extendable). Once allowed, the patent is granted and published.
Annual Maintenance Fees
Japanese maintenance fees are payable annually from year 4 of the patent. We track and remind you well in advance.
Benefits of Japan patent registration
- 20-year exclusive rights in the world's third-largest patent jurisdiction
- Critical for electronics, automotive, robotics, and pharmaceutical brands
- JPO grants are highly respected globally — strong defensive value
- Accelerated Examination delivers fast time-to-grant (under 12 months in many cases)
- Japanese courts are increasingly favorable to patent holders since 2016 reforms
- Mukoshinpan (Trial for Invalidation) provides fast administrative challenge route
What you'll need to get started
- 1Invention disclosure — written description in English
- 2Inventorship — full legal names of all inventors
- 3Sketches, drawings, or photographs (redrafted to JPO standards)
- 4Priority document if claiming Paris Convention or PCT priority
- 5Power of Attorney to our Benrishi counsel (we provide template)
We treat all disclosures as confidential. For detailed technical information, we recommend signing an NDA before the second meeting.
Frequently asked questions
Filing in multiple countries?
Consider PCT international instead of Japan alone.
One PCT application filed via WIPO preserves your priority right in many countries for up to 30/31 months — including Japan — giving you 18 extra months to evaluate commercial viability before committing to national-phase filings.
Request your Japan patent consultation
Tell us about your invention. A senior patent professional will respond within one business day. All disclosures are treated as confidential.
Start your patent application
Tell us about your invention through our guided intake. A senior patent professional reviews your Japan filing goals and responds with a strategy and Step One quote — no payment required upfront.
- Registered patent attorneys & agents — confidential consultation
- Flat $699 Step One — strategy, prior-art search & filing-route recommendation
We respond within one business day. No obligation.