The Japanese government has been enhancing protection of Intellectual Property Rights
(IPR) in close cooperation with the Japan customs, as the body responsible for border enforcement to suspend counterfeits and pirated goods, and the police responsible for preventing them to be distributed in Japan. Despite such efforts, there seems to be no end to the problems caused by such infringing products.
As part of our activities to protect intellectual property rights, MIPRO has been publishing “Directory of Foreign Brand Right Holders” since 2004 in cooperation with Union des Fabricants, Japan Watch Importers’ Association and The Japan Textiles Importers Association. The directory contains updated information on brand names, marks, right holders of foreign branded products and is provided free of charge to the Japan customs and the police nationwide. We receive a high reputation for its usefulness. It facilitates communication between the brand right holders and the competent authorities as well as expedites process of handling infringement cases.
Encouraged by the government’s policy for enforcing protection of IPR, MIPRO is working on making better directory with accuracy, reliability, and recency.
As the “Directory of Foreign Brand Right Holders 2020—electronic edition” has been provided, we have ceased publication of its hard copy version with the 2018 edition as the last printed one. “Directory of Foreign Brand Right Holders—electronic edition” is now available on our website to be used by the customs, the police and other registered users with login ID and password issued by MIPRO.
The application for the “Directory of Foreign Brand Right Holders 2022—electronic edition” has already been closed.
We will start accepting applications for the 2024 version in the spring of 2024.
Only trademark of products or services owned by foreign businesses, including the cases where its current right holder is a Japanese company, is eligible. Please note that the trademark whose application for registration is in a pending status is not eligible.
5,000 yen per trademark (including consumption tax)
