It usually takes 4 months to 6 months from the application date for the JPO to issue a first Office Action setting forth the JPO’s decision regarding the application.
If the JPO examiner does not find any reason(s) for refusing to approve the registration of an applied-for trademark, a Notice of Allowance will be issued at that time (Trademark Law Article 16).
However, if the JPO examiner finds one or more reasons why the application cannot be approved, the JPO will issue a Notice of Reason(s) for Refusal, after which the applicant may submit a Response, including an argument and/or amendment designed to overcome the reason(s) for refusal (Trademark Law Article 15-2). |
