Necessary data for filing Design application

To prepare and file a design application in Japan, please provide us with the following information and materials.
Additional information may be required depending on the type of design and the circumstances of the application.

Basic Information and Materials

1. Applicant's Information
   Full legal name of the applicant (company or individual), full address (head office or residence), and nationality.
2. Creator's (Designer's) Information
   Full name and address of each creator (designer). The creator must be an individual.
3. Information about the Article, Product, etc.
   Please provide the name of the article or product to which the design is applied and information sufficient to understand its purpose, function and manner of use. Information concerning its material, manufacturing method, size or other characteristics may also be required where necessary.
4. Data Representing the Design
   Please provide drawings, photographs or other image data sufficient to clearly disclose the entire design for which protection is sought.
   Depending on the design, these may include a front view, rear view, left side view, right side view, top view, bottom view, perspective view, cross-sectional view and/or other necessary views.For online filing with the JPO, the following image formats are generally used:
   • Color drawings, shaded drawings and photographs: JPEG (full color/RGB), 200 dpi, within 1181 × 889 pixels.
   • Monochrome line drawings: PNG, GIF or BMP, 400 dpi, within 2362 × 1779 pixels.

Additional Information for Special Types of Applications

Partial Design Application

If protection is sought only for a part of an article, product, graphic image, building or other subject matter, please inform us that you wish to file a partial design application and clearly identify the part for which protection is sought.

• Please provide drawings or photographs that clearly distinguish the part for which design registration is sought from the other parts.
• For example, the part to be protected may be shown by solid lines and the other parts by broken lines.
• If the boundary of the part to be protected is not clear from the drawings, additional explanation or drawings may be required.

Related Design Application

If the design is a variation of another design owned by the same applicant and you wish to file it as a related design, please provide the following information in addition to the basic information above:

• The Japanese application number or registration number of the design to be designated as the principal design, if already available.
• A copy of the drawings or other information identifying the principal design, particularly where the principal design application was not filed through our firm.
• Please also inform us expressly that you wish the new application to be filed as a related design.

Application Claiming Priority

If priority based on an earlier foreign design application is to be claimed, please provide:

• Country or intellectual property office of the first application;
• Filing date of the first application;
• Application number;
• A copy of the first application and its drawings; and
• The DAS access code or priority document, where applicable.

If the Design Has Already Been Disclosed

If the design has already been disclosed to the public before filing in Japan, for example through a website, social media, exhibition, catalogue, advertisement, sale or press release, please inform us before filing.

Please provide the date, place and manner of each disclosure together with supporting materials such as screenshots, photographs, catalogues, website pages or other records showing the disclosed design.
These materials may be necessary when requesting application of the exception to lack of novelty under Japanese design law.

Graphic Images, Buildings and Interior Designs

Japan also provides design protection for certain graphic images, buildings and interior designs.
For these applications, please provide materials that clearly show the subject matter for which protection is sought and information explaining its purpose and use.
Depending on the design, additional drawings, screen images, floor plans, perspective views or other explanatory materials may be required.

Secret Design

If you wish to keep the registered design confidential for a certain period after registration under the Japanese secret design system, please inform us before filing or before payment of the registration fee, as appropriate.