【Trademark Q&A : Japan】Q14. What is the formality examination?

A : The formality examination is to check whether the application is in a format that complies with the provisions of the Trademark Law.
Under the Trademark Law, the description format, items, and contents of application documents are stipulated in detail.
If you do not comply with it, a “Procedure for Amendment of Procedure” is issued by the Japan Intellectual Property Office to instruct the correction and re-application of incomplete application documents.
It will be mailed to the applicant.
Applicants who have received it must apply for an amendment by amending the application documents within the specified period (in principle, within 30 days from the date of dispatch of the Directive).