On April 1, 2020, the revised Japanese Patent Act and related laws (Act No. 3 of May 17, 2019) officially came into effect (with some provisions excluded). The Design Act expanded its protection scope to include images, buildings, and interior designs. Meanwhile, the related design system was improved, allowing applications for related designs even after the publication of the principal design (until ten years from the filing date of the basic design).

These changes in design applications have attracted significant attention from various companies and stakeholders. Therefore, the latest progress regarding these design registration applications is announced as follows:

Number of Design Registration Applications for Newly Protected Subjects  

(Data available as of January 5, 2026)  

- Images: 7,806 cases  

- Buildings: 2,106 cases  

- Interior Designs: 1,380 cases  

Number of Registered Designs for Newly Protected Subjects  

(Data available as of January 5, 2026)  

- Images: 6,071 cases  

- Buildings: 1,708 cases  

- Interior Designs: 1,016 cases  

The number of design registration applications includes applications still under examination; therefore, the ratio of registered designs to applications does not represent the registration rate.

Number of Related Design Registration Applications  

(Data available as of January 5, 2026)  

- Applications filed before the publication of the principal design: 18,804 cases  

- Applications filed after the publication of the principal design: 4,698 cases  

Reference original text:  

For the original Japanese content, please click the link below:  

https://www.jpo.go.jp/system/design/gaiyo/seidogaiyo/document/isyou_kaisei_2019/shutsugan-jokyo.pdf  

Source: Japan Patent Office Official Website  

Compiled by: Yue Zhao