ABOUT US

IPStart Intellectual Property Law Firm is based in the Tokyo metropolitan area, Japan. We specialize in both domestic and international intellectual property matters — including applications, oppositions, appeals, expert opinions, litigation, and consulting — across patents, utility models, designs, and trademarks.

Our mission is to support clients in growing their businesses and enhancing corporate value by protecting their innovative ideas and brands through intellectual property rights. We also help clients leverage IP as a strategic asset.

We focus on providing IP support to startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) around the world.

We provide comprehensive IP support — from domestic to foreign patent applications — through our global network of trusted patent attorneys. We are especially committed to reducing the cost of international filings while securing high-quality patent protection abroad.

Preparing and Prosecuting Domestic and Foreign Patent and Utility Model Applications to Grant

• We handle all procedures for patent and utility model applications before the Japan Patent Office.
• We handle various procedures for foreign patent and utility model applications, including PCT applications.

Preparing and Prosecuting Domestic and Foreign Trademark Applications to Grant

• We handle all procedures for trademark applications before the Japanese Patent Office.
• We handle various procedures for foreign trademark applications, including Madrid Protocol applications (Madrid e-Filing).

Preparing and Prosecuting Domestic and Foreign Design Patent Applications to Grant

• We handle all procedures for design patent applications before the Japanese Patent Office.
• We handle various procedures for foreign design patent applications, including international design patent applications based on Hague agreement (Hague e-Filing).

Opposition, Trial Proceedings, and Third Party Observation

• We represent clients in a series of opposition proceedings for patent and trademark.
• We represent clients in a series of appeal proceedings against the examiner’s decision of rejection.
• We represent clients in a series of proceedings for invalidation trial and correction trial.
• We represent clients in a series of proceedings for cancellation trial of trademark registration, including cancellation trial for non-use of registered trademark.
• We represent clients for third-party observation to attack the patentability of another patent application.

Expert Opinion Services

• We provide expert opinions on whether or not your products infringe patents owned by others, or whether or not products of others infringe your patents.
• We provide expert opinions on whether or not a subject patent is invalid.

Prior Art Searches/Prior Trademark and design Searches/Invalidity Searches

• We conduct document searches to identify potential references related to patentability of your invention before filing.
• We conduct searches for registrability of trademark and design applications before filing.
• We conduct document searches for supporting strong arguments to invalidate a patent in dispute.

Patent Asset Monetization Consulting

• In collaboration with a company which develops cutting-edge AI technology for infringement detection, we visualize the value of your patent assets and support the monetization of your patent assets.

Infringement litigations and Litigations against Trial Decisions

• We represent clients in administrative lawsuits to revoke trial decisions made by the Japan Patent Office.
• We handle patent infringement litigations in collaboration with our affiliated attorneys at law.
• We support pre-litigation negotiations (preparing infringement/validity opinions and warning letters).

Foreign Litigation/invalidation trial Support

• We provide support for foreign patent infringement lawsuits and invalidation proceedings such as Inter Partes Review (IPR) in cooperation with foreign patent attorneys.

IP Consulting

• We provide consulting services related to intellectual property, including license agreements.
• We provide regular advisory services for clients.

Smart IP Support for Your Business

IPStart offers comprehensive support for both the protection and strategic use of intellectual property, working in close collaboration with Japanese attorneys, foreign patent attorneys, and legal professionals worldwide.

We focus primarily on domestic patent prosecution, which serves as the foundation for broader IP strategy and enforcement.

To learn more about patents, utility models, design patents, and trademarks, please visit the pages below.