The services offered by the EU-Japan IP Helpdesk aim to provide the Helpdesk’s clients with answers about IP rights in Japan.
The Helpdesk works together with two major IP firms in Japan to provide its services.
Shiga Intellectual Property Office
SHIGA International Patent Office is a fully-fledged IP law firm that has represented domestic and international clients, ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, for six decades when they have wished to file applications at the Japanese Patent Office and worldwide. With a team of approximately 140 qualified Japanese patent attorneys, four attorneys-at-law and four Chinese patent attorneys, SHIGA provides clients with excellent work to protect and leverage their IP rights. SHIGA is a highly reputable IP firm, as recognized by international legal magazines. SHIGA assists European companies, SMEs and research institutes in venturing into the Japanese market by responding to various legal enquiries regarding Japanese IP rights.
For more info on Shiga Intellectual Property Office, click here.
Sonoda & Kobayashi Intellectual Property Group
Sonoda & Kobayashi Intellectual Property Group was established in Tokyo in 1998 to provide legal services in the field of intellectual property to clients worldwide. The firm has grown to a team of approximately 120 professionals representing 13 nationalities. Sonoda & Kobayashi is a full-service IP firm, with services available in both Japan and China through the firm’s Beijing office. The firm’s client base spans from multinational corporations to SMEs from around the world, covering industries such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, and manufacturing. The team includes patent attorneys, attorneys-at-law, engineers, and technical specialists with expertise across a wide range of technical fields, including electronics, mechanical engineering, chemistry, and biotechnology. Many members of the firm hold advanced degrees, and many have prior experience in research and development. As a Japanese firm with an international outlook, clear communication and transparency are paramount to Sonoda & Kobayashi.
The Helpdesk operates in alignment with the EU-Japan IP Action which focuses on enhancing cooperation in the field of Intellectual Property, particularly in the digital space. Implemented by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), this initiative aims to align IP policies and practices between the EU and Japan, fostering trade and innovation. The Action will run for 48 months starting October 2025. For more info about the EU-Japan IP Action, please visit the relevant website by clicking here.
The Services are dedicated to
1. European Companies (SMEs only) and Industry Clusters with registered Headquarters in one of the Member States of the EU and the other countries of the Single Market Programme (SMP);
2. Affiliates of European Companies with a registered representation in Japan as well as Chambers of Commerce of the Member States of the EU with a registered representation in Japan;
3. Trade Promotion Offices appointed by the Member States of the EU officially represented in Japan.
