{"id":374,"date":"2026-11-07T17:20:48","date_gmt":"2026-11-07T08:20:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/japan-trademark-license-agreement\/"},"modified":"2026-11-07T17:24:07","modified_gmt":"2026-11-07T08:24:07","slug":"japan-trademark-license-agreement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/japan-trademark-license-agreement\/","title":{"rendered":"Licensing a Trademark in Japan: Exclusive vs Non-Exclusive Licenses, Recording and Agreement Checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">&#8220;We are appointing a Japanese distributor. Do they need a license to use our trademark?&#8221; &#8220;Our contract says &#8216;exclusive license&#8217; \u2014 is that enough in Japan?&#8221; &#8220;Our OEM partner in Japan puts our brand on the products. Who should own the Japanese registration?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Overseas brand owners entering Japan rarely do everything themselves. They work with importers, distributors, franchisees, OEM manufacturers or a Japanese subsidiary \u2014 and all of them use the brand. Japanese trademark law has its own two types of license, and one of them only exists once it is registered at the Japan Patent Office (JPO). A contract that works well under US, EU or Chinese practice can leave gaps in Japan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">In this article, Japanese Patent Attorney Toru Kano of BrandAgent explains how to license a Japanese trademark: exclusive vs non-exclusive licenses, recording, what to put in the agreement, and why ownership of the Japanese mark should be decided before anyone starts selling.<\/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%;\">The two Japanese license types: <em>senyo shiyoken<\/em> and <em>tsujo shiyoken<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Why an &#8220;exclusive license&#8221; in your contract may not be an exclusive license in Japan<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">How licenses are recorded at the JPO and what it costs<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">A checklist for the license agreement<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Licensee use and non-use cancellation<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Who should own the mark: brand owner, subsidiary or distributor?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Start with a Japanese registration<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">A license is permission to use a registered trademark. Licenses are recorded against a registered trademark right, so the first step is to obtain the registration in Japan \u2014 in the name of the party who should control the brand. A company or individual without a domicile or business office in Japan files and handles all procedures through a Japanese patent attorney (<em>Benrishi<\/em>). Normal examination usually takes around 9\u201312 months, so file well before the distributor launches.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Two types of license in Japan<\/span><\/h2>\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%;\">Item<\/span><\/th>\n<th style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Exclusive right to use (<em>senyo shiyoken<\/em>)<\/span><\/th>\n<th style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Non-exclusive right to use (<em>tsujo shiyoken<\/em>)<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Nature<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Licensee monopolises use within the licensed scope<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Permission to use; several licensees possible<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Registration<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Required \u2014 takes effect only when registered<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Optional \u2014 effective by contract<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Owner&#8217;s own use<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Owner can no longer use within the scope<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Owner can continue to use<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Registration license tax<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">JPY 30,000 per case<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">JPY 30,000 per case (if registered)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Exclusive right to use (<em>senyo shiyoken<\/em>)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">This is the strongest form of license. Within the licensed goods, territory and period, the licensee has the exclusive right to use the mark. The JPO&#8217;s Formality Examination Handbook states that registration of the establishment of an exclusive right is a <strong>requirement for it to take effect<\/strong>. Without registration, there is no <em>senyo shiyoken<\/em>, whatever the contract calls it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">The JPO also warns that once an exclusive right is established, <strong>the trademark owner itself cannot use the mark within that scope<\/strong>. Brand owners who still sell directly in Japan \u2014 for example on their own Amazon.co.jp store \u2014 must define the scope carefully, or choose a non-exclusive license instead.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Non-exclusive right to use (<em>tsujo shiyoken<\/em>)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">A non-exclusive license arises from the agreement and can be granted to several licensees. Registration is not needed for the license to be valid between the parties. However, Japan kept a &#8220;registration for effect against third parties&#8221; system for trademark non-exclusive licenses. While patent non-exclusive licenses became effective against a later owner automatically, this was not adopted for trademarks. If you want the license to survive a sale of the trademark to a new owner, it must be registered.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">&#8220;Exclusive&#8221; in the contract is not the same thing<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Many international distribution agreements grant an &#8220;exclusive license for Japan&#8221;. If this is not registered as a <em>senyo shiyoken<\/em>, it is in effect a non-exclusive license with a contractual promise not to license anyone else. That promise binds the brand owner, but it is not a registered right. Decide consciously which type you want, and say so in the agreement.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Recording a license at the JPO<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">According to the JPO procedure pages for exclusive and non-exclusive licenses (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpo.go.jp\/system\/process\/toroku\/iten\/tetsuzuki_14.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">exclusive<\/a> \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpo.go.jp\/system\/process\/toroku\/iten\/tetsuzuki_15.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">non-exclusive<\/a>, Japanese):<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">The application states the <strong>scope<\/strong>: territory (limited to Japan), period (cannot extend beyond the term of the trademark right) and content (e.g. the goods covered).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">A document showing the license \u2014 a license agreement or license certificate \u2014 is filed. Both parties&#8217; intention must be confirmed in writing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Documents in a foreign language must be filed with a <strong>Japanese translation<\/strong> in addition to the original.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">If the trademark is co-owned, the consent of the other co-owners is needed.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">The registration license tax is <strong>JPY 30,000 per case<\/strong> for establishing either an exclusive or a non-exclusive right (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpo.go.jp\/system\/process\/tesuryo\/toroku.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">JPO registration tax table<\/a>). Many brand owners prefer to file a short license certificate covering only the registrable items, rather than the full commercial agreement with royalty terms.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Checklist for the license agreement<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Mark and registration number:<\/strong> list each Japanese registration, including katakana or logo versions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Type of license:<\/strong> <em>senyo shiyoken<\/em> (registered) or non-exclusive; whether sublicensing is allowed.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Scope:<\/strong> goods\/services, territory (Japan or part of it), sales channels (e.g. online marketplaces), period.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Quality control:<\/strong> product standards, approval of packaging and advertising, the right to inspect.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>How the mark is used:<\/strong> the exact registered form, \u00ae or TM marking, prohibition of modified logos.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Use reports:<\/strong> periodic reports with photos, invoices and listings \u2014 useful evidence of use.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>No filings by the licensee:<\/strong> the licensee must not file the mark, similar marks or domain names in Japan in its own name, and must assign anything it files.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Enforcement:<\/strong> who monitors marketplaces and acts against counterfeits, and who pays.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Recording:<\/strong> who files the recording, who pays the tax, and the obligation to cancel the recording when the license ends.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Termination:<\/strong> sell-off period, stop of use, return of materials, removal of listings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Governing law and language:<\/strong> and, if the contract is in English or Chinese, who prepares the Japanese translation for the JPO.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Royalty, tax and competition-law aspects of the agreement should be reviewed by your lawyers or tax advisers; this article focuses on the trademark side.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Licensee use protects your registration<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">A Japanese registration that has not been used in Japan for 3 consecutive years can be cancelled at anyone&#8217;s request (Article 50). According to the JPO, the use that counts is use by the <strong>owner, an exclusive licensee or a non-exclusive licensee<\/strong>; use outside Japan does not count, and the owner bears the burden of proving use.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">For an overseas brand owner that sells in Japan only through a distributor or OEM partner, this is important. The JPO explains that where use by a licensee is relied on, the existence of the license must also be proven, and recommends obtaining regular use reports from licensees. A written license \u2014 even a simple one \u2014 and an archive of the licensee&#8217;s invoices, packaging photos and listings will make a non-use cancellation much easier to defend.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Quality control is not optional<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Under Article 53, if an exclusive or non-exclusive licensee uses the mark in a way that misleads consumers about quality or causes confusion with another&#8217;s goods, the registration itself can be cancelled. The JPO Appeals Handbook notes that the licensee&#8217;s intent is not required. Regular checks of how the licensee actually uses the mark protect not only the brand image but the registration.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Who should own the Japanese mark?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">It is common for a Japanese distributor or importer to offer to file the trademark &#8220;to save you trouble&#8221;. If the distributor owns the registration and the relationship ends, you may be unable to sell under your own brand in Japan without its cooperation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Japanese law has a remedy: under Article 53-2, if an agent or representative registers the mark of a person holding rights in another Paris Convention country without a justifiable reason, that person can request cancellation. But according to the JPO Appeals Handbook, this request cannot be made after <strong>5 years from the registration date<\/strong>, and it requires a trial. Prevention is far cheaper:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Brand owner files in its own name<\/strong> and licenses the distributor or OEM partner.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Japanese subsidiary as owner<\/strong> can make sense if it runs the Japanese business long term \u2014 but agree the group&#8217;s policy in writing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>If a distributor has already filed,<\/strong> negotiate an assignment to the brand owner now, while relations are good, rather than at termination.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\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>Register before you license<\/p><div class=\"st-in-mybox\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Japan is a first-to-file country. If your distributor, OEM partner or a third party files your mark first, you may have to license your own brand back or fight a cancellation trial. Secure the Japanese registration in the right name before you appoint partners.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Costs<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Official JPO fees for the registration itself: filing JPY 3,400 + JPY 8,600 per class; registration (10 years) JPY 32,900 per class. BrandAgent&#8217;s fees: <strong>JPY 25,000 per class at filing and JPY 25,000 per class at registration<\/strong> (excluding Japanese consumption tax). The prior search is free when you instruct us to file, and consultations and quotes are free. License recording is quoted individually \u2014 ask for a free quote; the official registration license tax is JPY 30,000 per case.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">FAQ<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Q. Do we have to register a non-exclusive license?<\/strong><br \/>\nA. No, it is valid by contract. Registration is needed if you want it to be effective against someone who later acquires the trademark.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Q. Can our distributor&#8217;s sales protect our mark from non-use cancellation?<\/strong><br \/>\nA. Use by a licensee counts. Keep a written license and the licensee&#8217;s use evidence so that you can prove both the license and the use.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Q. Can we record our English-language agreement?<\/strong><br \/>\nA. Foreign-language documents must be filed with a Japanese translation. A short license certificate is often easier.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Q. Can you work with us in English or Chinese?<\/strong><br \/>\nA. Yes. We have handled more than 4,000 trademark applications, and every case is handled personally by the patent attorney. We accept PayPal (in JPY) or bank transfer.<\/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%;\">An exclusive right to use (<em>senyo shiyoken<\/em>) only takes effect when registered \u2014 and blocks the owner&#8217;s own use within its scope.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">A non-exclusive license is valid by contract; register it to keep it effective against a later owner.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Recording: scope (Japan, period, goods), license document, Japanese translation, JPY 30,000 tax per case.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Licensee use counts against non-use cancellation \u2014 keep a written license and use reports.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Own the Japanese mark yourself and license partners; do not let a distributor file it.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\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>Licensing your brand to a partner in Japan?<\/strong><br \/>\nTell us your brand, your Japanese partners and how they will use the mark \u2014 we will reply with the registrations you need, the right license structure and a fixed 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\/trademark_lp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Get a free quote for your Japanese trademark<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trademark licensing in Japan: exclusive licenses that must be registered, non-exclusive licenses, JPO recording, agreement terms and non-use cancellation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":385,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-374","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trademark"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 5.0.4 - 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