{"id":258,"date":"2026-11-01T17:21:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-01T08:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/japan-utility-model-technical-evaluation-enforcement\/"},"modified":"2026-11-02T16:32:37","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T07:32:37","slug":"japan-utility-model-technical-evaluation-enforcement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/japan-utility-model-technical-evaluation-enforcement\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan Utility Model Technical Evaluation Report: Enforcement Risks and Converting to a Patent"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">&#8220;We found copies of our product in Japan \u2014 can we send a warning based on our utility model?&#8221; &#8220;What is a technical evaluation report?&#8221; &#8220;Can we still turn our Japanese utility model into a patent?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">A Japanese utility model is registered quickly and cheaply, but the rules for using it against infringers are very different from a patent. Many overseas right holders discover this only when they try to stop a copycat on Amazon Japan or in a Japanese distribution channel. In this article, Japanese Patent Attorney Toru Kano of BrandAgent explains the technical evaluation report, the enforcement risks under the Utility Model Act, and the options for converting between a utility model and a patent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">*Official fees are those listed on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpo.go.jp\/system\/process\/tesuryo\/hyou.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">JPO fee list<\/a> (checked November 2026).<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"st-mybox st-mybox-class\" style=\"margin: 18px 0; padding: 16px; border: 2px solid #e5e7eb; border-radius: 10px; background: #fafafa;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>What you will learn<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"margin: 10px 0 0 18px;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">What a technical evaluation report is, and who can request it<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">The official fee for the report<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">The mandatory warning step before enforcement (Article 29-2)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Liability if the utility model is later invalidated (Article 29-3)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Converting a utility model into a patent, and a patent application into a utility model<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">What is a technical evaluation report?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">A Japanese utility model is registered without examination of novelty or inventive step. Registration alone therefore tells you nothing about whether the right would survive a challenge.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">The <strong>technical evaluation report<\/strong> (<em>jitsuyo shinan gijutsu hyokasho<\/em>) fills that gap. On request, a JPO examiner searches the prior art and evaluates whether the registered device is novel, involves an inventive step and meets certain other requirements. Think of it as the examiner&#8217;s objective opinion on validity. It is not a final decision on validity, but it is the document that Japanese law requires before a utility model can be enforced.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Who can request it, and when?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Anyone<\/strong> can request a technical evaluation \u2014 not only the right holder \u2014 and there is no time limit. A company that receives a warning based on a competitor&#8217;s utility model, for example, may request one to check whether the right is really valid. When a third party files a request, the right holder is notified.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Official fee<\/span><\/h3>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\" border=\"1\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #f5f5f5;\">\n<th style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Claims<\/span><\/th>\n<th style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Request fee (JPY 42,000 + JPY 1,000 \u00d7 claims)<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>1<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">JPY 43,000<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>3<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">JPY 45,000<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>5<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">JPY 47,000<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>10<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">JPY 52,000<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">*Attorney fees are not included. For a utility model based on a PCT international application, a lower fee applies, depending on which office prepared the international search report.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Compared with the JPY 20,600 due at filing for a one-claim utility model, the evaluation fee is significant, so build it into your budget if enforcement in Japan is a realistic possibility.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Step 1 of enforcement: warn with the report (Article 29-2)<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Under Article 29-2 of the Utility Model Act, the owner of a utility model <strong>may not exercise the right against an infringer until it has given a warning presenting a technical evaluation report<\/strong>. This applies to injunctions and damages claims alike. In practice, enforcement follows this sequence:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>1. Request the report<\/strong> if you do not already have one.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>2. Read the evaluation carefully:<\/strong> has novelty or inventive step been denied for the relevant claims?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>3. Send a warning letter<\/strong> to the infringer, enclosing a copy of the report.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>4. Negotiate or sue<\/strong> if the infringer does not respond.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">With a patent, you can go straight to a warning or a lawsuit. With a utility model, the report always comes first, and preparing it takes time \u2014 so if speed matters, start early.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"st-mybox  has-title st-mybox-class\" style=\"background:#ffebee;border-color:#ef9a9a;border-width:2px;border-radius:5px;margin: 25px 0 25px 0;\"><p class=\"st-mybox-title\" style=\"color:#ef5350;font-weight:bold;text-shadow: #fff 3px 0px 0px, #fff 2.83487px 0.981584px 0px, #fff 2.35766px 1.85511px 0px, #fff 1.62091px 2.52441px 0px, #fff 0.705713px 2.91581px 0px, #fff -0.287171px 2.98622px 0px, #fff -1.24844px 2.72789px 0px, #fff -2.07227px 2.16926px 0px, #fff -2.66798px 1.37182px 0px, #fff -2.96998px 0.42336px 0px, #fff -2.94502px -0.571704px 0px, #fff -2.59586px -1.50383px 0px, #fff -1.96093px -2.27041px 0px, #fff -1.11013px -2.78704px 0px, #fff -0.137119px -2.99686px 0px, #fff 0.850987px -2.87677px 0px, #fff 1.74541px -2.43999px 0px, #fff 2.44769px -1.73459px 0px, #fff 2.88051px -0.838246px 0px;\"><i class=\"fa fa-check-circle st-css-no\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>If the evaluation is negative<\/p><div class=\"st-in-mybox\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">If the report concludes that the device lacks novelty or inventive step, a warning based on it is unlikely to persuade anyone, and pressing ahead greatly increases the liability risk described below. Stop and discuss the next steps with your Japanese attorney before taking any action.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Liability if the utility model is invalidated (Article 29-3)<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">If the owner enforces a utility model or sends a warning, and the registration is later invalidated, the owner is liable to compensate the other party for the damage caused by the enforcement or warning (Article 29-3). If a Japanese distributor stopped selling a product because of your warning and the right is then invalidated, for instance, you could be ordered to pay for its lost sales.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">The owner is not liable if it acted <strong>with reasonable care<\/strong>. Under the Act, acting on the basis of a favorable technical evaluation \u2014 one that did not deny registrability \u2014 is one way of showing reasonable care. Even so, do not treat a good report as a guarantee: check whether there is relevant prior art the report did not cite before you act.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">For foreign right holders this point is particularly important. The rules differ from those in many other countries, including China, where a utility model patent evaluation report plays a different role. Do not assume your home-country enforcement playbook can be applied in Japan as is.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Timing: the report can close the door to a patent<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">There is a strategic catch: <strong>once the right holder itself requests a technical evaluation, it can no longer file a patent application based on the utility model registration<\/strong>. If you might want to upgrade to a patent, think carefully before requesting the report. And if you have no plans to enforce or convert, you do not need a report at all.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Converting a utility model into a patent (Patent Act, Article 46-2)<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">A common strategy is to secure a fast utility model first and switch to a stronger patent if the product succeeds. Japanese law allows this through a <strong>patent application based on a utility model registration<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"st-mybox  has-title st-mybox-class\" style=\"background:#f1f8e9;border-color:#a5d6a7;border-width:2px;border-radius:5px;margin: 25px 0 25px 0;\"><p class=\"st-mybox-title\" style=\"color:#4caf50;font-weight:bold;text-shadow: #fff 3px 0px 0px, #fff 2.83487px 0.981584px 0px, #fff 2.35766px 1.85511px 0px, #fff 1.62091px 2.52441px 0px, #fff 0.705713px 2.91581px 0px, #fff -0.287171px 2.98622px 0px, #fff -1.24844px 2.72789px 0px, #fff -2.07227px 2.16926px 0px, #fff -2.66798px 1.37182px 0px, #fff -2.96998px 0.42336px 0px, #fff -2.94502px -0.571704px 0px, #fff -2.59586px -1.50383px 0px, #fff -1.96093px -2.27041px 0px, #fff -1.11013px -2.78704px 0px, #fff -0.137119px -2.99686px 0px, #fff 0.850987px -2.87677px 0px, #fff 1.74541px -2.43999px 0px, #fff 2.44769px -1.73459px 0px, #fff 2.88051px -0.838246px 0px;\"><i class=\"fa fa-check-circle st-css-no\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>Key conditions<\/p><div class=\"st-in-mybox\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">It must be filed within <strong>3 years<\/strong> of the utility model filing date.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">It is subject to conditions \u2014 for example, that no technical evaluation has been requested by the owner (or, after a third party&#8217;s request, that the set period has not passed).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">The utility model right must be <strong>abandoned<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">The patent application is deemed filed on the original utility model filing date.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Like any patent application, it requires a request for examination and must pass examination.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">This two-step strategy combines early protection with a later, examined right. The trade-off is that you give up the utility model and wait for patent examination. Watch the 3-year deadline and decide early.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Converting a patent application into a utility model<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">The reverse is also possible. If a patent application is struggling in examination \u2014 for example, because the examiner doubts inventive step \u2014 it can be <strong>converted into a utility model application<\/strong> within <strong>9 years and 6 months<\/strong> of the patent filing date, but <strong>not after 3 months from receiving the first decision of refusal<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">The converted application keeps the original filing date. Remember, however, that a utility model lasts 10 years from that date, so the remaining term may be short, and only subject matter relating to the shape, structure or combination of articles can be carried over.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Practical tips for foreign right holders<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"st-mybox  has-title st-mybox-class\" style=\"background:#f1f8e9;border-color:#a5d6a7;border-width:2px;border-radius:5px;margin: 25px 0 25px 0;\"><p class=\"st-mybox-title\" style=\"color:#4caf50;font-weight:bold;text-shadow: #fff 3px 0px 0px, #fff 2.83487px 0.981584px 0px, #fff 2.35766px 1.85511px 0px, #fff 1.62091px 2.52441px 0px, #fff 0.705713px 2.91581px 0px, #fff -0.287171px 2.98622px 0px, #fff -1.24844px 2.72789px 0px, #fff -2.07227px 2.16926px 0px, #fff -2.66798px 1.37182px 0px, #fff -2.96998px 0.42336px 0px, #fff -2.94502px -0.571704px 0px, #fff -2.59586px -1.50383px 0px, #fff -1.96093px -2.27041px 0px, #fff -1.11013px -2.78704px 0px, #fff -0.137119px -2.99686px 0px, #fff 0.850987px -2.87677px 0px, #fff 1.74541px -2.43999px 0px, #fff 2.44769px -1.73459px 0px, #fff 2.88051px -0.838246px 0px;\"><i class=\"fa fa-check-circle st-css-no\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>Practical tips<\/p><div class=\"st-in-mybox\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Search before filing:<\/strong> it reduces the risk of a negative evaluation or invalidation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Request the report strategically:<\/strong> hold off while a patent conversion is still an option.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Never warn without the report:<\/strong> enforcement without it is not permitted.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Stop if the evaluation is negative:<\/strong> invalidation can make you liable for damages.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Work through a Japanese attorney:<\/strong> foreign owners without a Japanese address need one for JPO procedures, and warning letters should be reviewed under Japanese law.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">FAQ<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Q. Can we send a warning letter without a technical evaluation report?<\/strong><br \/>\nA. Exercising the right \u2014 injunction or damages \u2014 requires a prior warning presenting the report. A strong warning without it does not meet that requirement and can create disputes, so it is best avoided.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Q. How much does the report cost?<\/strong><br \/>\nA. JPY 42,000 + JPY 1,000 \u00d7 claims in official fees (JPY 43,000 for one claim), plus attorney fees. PCT-based utility models qualify for a lower fee.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Q. We received a warning based on a Japanese utility model. What should we do?<\/strong><br \/>\nA. Check whether a technical evaluation report was enclosed and what it says. Anyone can request an evaluation, so if no report was provided or its conclusion is doubtful, consult a Japanese patent attorney.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Q. Until when can we convert our utility model into a patent?<\/strong><br \/>\nA. Within 3 years of the utility model filing date, provided conditions are met \u2014 notably that no technical evaluation has been requested. The utility model right is abandoned.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Q. Can we work with you in English or Chinese?<\/strong><br \/>\nA. Yes. Every case is handled personally by a licensed Japanese patent attorney, in English or Chinese, with payment by bank transfer or PayPal (in JPY).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"st-mybox  has-title st-mybox-class\" style=\"background:#f1f8e9;border-color:#a5d6a7;border-width:2px;border-radius:5px;margin: 25px 0 25px 0;\"><p class=\"st-mybox-title\" style=\"color:#4caf50;font-weight:bold;text-shadow: #fff 3px 0px 0px, #fff 2.83487px 0.981584px 0px, #fff 2.35766px 1.85511px 0px, #fff 1.62091px 2.52441px 0px, #fff 0.705713px 2.91581px 0px, #fff -0.287171px 2.98622px 0px, #fff -1.24844px 2.72789px 0px, #fff -2.07227px 2.16926px 0px, #fff -2.66798px 1.37182px 0px, #fff -2.96998px 0.42336px 0px, #fff -2.94502px -0.571704px 0px, #fff -2.59586px -1.50383px 0px, #fff -1.96093px -2.27041px 0px, #fff -1.11013px -2.78704px 0px, #fff -0.137119px -2.99686px 0px, #fff 0.850987px -2.87677px 0px, #fff 1.74541px -2.43999px 0px, #fff 2.44769px -1.73459px 0px, #fff 2.88051px -0.838246px 0px;\"><i class=\"fa fa-check-circle st-css-no\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>Key points<\/p><div class=\"st-in-mybox\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">A technical evaluation report is the JPO examiner&#8217;s opinion on validity; anyone can request it at any time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Official fee: JPY 42,000 + JPY 1,000 \u00d7 claims.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Enforcement requires a prior warning presenting the report (Article 29-2).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">If the right is invalidated, the owner is liable for damages unless it acted with reasonable care (Article 29-3).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Utility model \u2192 patent within 3 years (no evaluation requested); patent \u2192 utility model within 9 years 6 months.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"related-articles\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Related articles<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/japan-utility-model-vs-patent\/\">Utility Model vs Patent in Japan: Which Should Foreign Applicants Choose?<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/japan-utility-model-cost-procedure\/\">Japan Utility Model Cost and Procedure (2026): Official JPO Fees, Timeline and Filing Tips<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/japan-patent-infringement\/\">Patent Infringement in Japan: How to Check Your Risk and Respond to a Warning Letter<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/how-to-file-a-patent-in-japan\/\">How to Get a Patent in Japan as a Foreign Applicant: Documents, Routes and Process<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f0f7ff; border: 2px solid #0066cc; padding: 20px; margin: 24px 0; border-radius: 6px;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Need to enforce or upgrade a utility model in Japan?<\/strong><br \/>\nTell us about your registration and the situation \u2014 we will reply with the best next step and a quote, free of charge.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">BrandAgent Patent Office (Kyoto, Japan)<br \/>\nToru Kano, Japanese Patent Attorney<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a style=\"color: #0066cc; font-weight: bold;\" href=\"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en\/home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Free consultation \u2014 visit BrandAgent&#8217;s English site<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Japanese utility model cannot be enforced without a technical evaluation report. Fees, Article 29-2\/29-3 risks and patent conversion explained.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":300,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-utility-models"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=258"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":266,"href":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258\/revisions\/266"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/300"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}