Japan Desk:Taiwan & China IP services for Japanese companies
WISECODE's Japan Desk supports Japanese companies on intellectual property across Taiwan and China — trademarks, patents, designs, FTO and IP risk. We handle filing and prosecution before TIPO and, through our established China partner, before CNIPA, with reporting and communication in Japanese. Japanese businesses entering Greater China can manage Taiwan and China IP through one reporting flow, without separately instructing multiple foreign firms.
One Japanese-speaking window for Taiwan and China
Japanese companies often need Taiwan and China handled together, but the systems, languages and filing routes are different. The Japan Desk handles instructions, reporting and coordination in Japanese.
How should a Japanese company evaluate a Taiwan firm for Japanese-language support?
A firm's claim to be "Japanese-friendly" does not tell you which steps of your case actually run in Japanese. Settle these points before comparing quotes.
- Who actually does the work — ask for the named Taiwan patent attorney handling your case, and whether that person reads and responds to the Japanese specification directly. A Japanese-speaking contact person is not the same as a technical professional who can work in Japanese.
- Whether claims are drafted in Chinese by the person who read your Japanese specification, or passed through a separate translation step — a translator's word choice fixes your enforceable scope, and it is close to impossible to repair later.
- How statutory deadlines are controlled — some Taiwan periods cannot be extended. Ask whether deadlines are double-checked by a second person, and in what language and how often you receive status reports.
- Whether fees and scope are defined up front — ask what a quote covers beyond the filing itself: translation, amendments, office action responses, and post-registration steps. More telling than fixed fee versus hourly billing is whether the firm can explain in advance what triggers an additional charge.
- Jurisdictional coverage — whether one firm can cover China and related jurisdictions alongside Taiwan, so you avoid briefing separate firms with inconsistent strategy.
What the Japan Desk handles
- Taiwan trademark filing, prosecution, renewal and disputes
- Taiwan patent filing, prosecution and annuity management
- Design patent filings for product appearance
- FTO and IP risk assessments for Taiwan and China supply chains
- Oppositions, invalidations and non-use cancellations
- China trademark, patent and FTO work through our established China partner
Taiwan + China coordination
WISECODE handles Taiwan work directly before TIPO. For China, we coordinate through our established China partner and support the work with PRC-qualified patent judgment inside our team.
Reporting in Japanese, on your cadence
Japanese clients can receive filing reports, office-action summaries, recommended actions and quote explanations in Japanese. For overseas firms, conflict checks and general inquiries are handled within 2 business days.
Related Taiwan services
Japan Desk matters often start from Taiwan trademark, patent or FTO questions, then expand into China coordination.
What we handle in Japanese
The practical question for a Japanese applicant is not whether a Taiwan firm has a Japanese-language page, but which steps of the matter actually run in Japanese. This is our scope.
| Step | Language handling |
|---|---|
| Reviewing the specification | We review the Japanese specification as filed and return our comments in Japanese. No Chinese translation is needed before we can read it and respond. |
| Filing report | Japanese |
| Office-action summary and recommended response | Japanese |
| Quotes and scope confirmation | Japanese |
| Point of contact | Direct contact with the person handling the matter, in Japanese |
| Conflict check and new-matter inquiry | Answered within 2 business days |
| China matters | Coordinated through our established China partner, with a qualified PRC patent agent on our team |
Common pitfalls
- Treating Taiwan and China as one IP system.
- Using separate agents without a shared translation and reporting strategy.
- Missing Taiwan-specific rules such as no PCT national phase.
- Underestimating trademark squatting before market entry.
Why Japanese companies choose WISECODE
- Japanese-speaking communication and reporting through the Japan Desk
- 15 IP professionals and 5,500+ IP cases across 90+ jurisdictions since 2016
- Taiwan trademark, patent, design and FTO coverage
- China coordination through our established China partner
- Qualified PRC patent agent capability for China patent and FTO matters
Official references
Frequently asked questions
How should a Japanese company evaluate a Taiwan firm for Japanese-language support?
Before comparing quotes, check three things. First, who actually does the work — ask for the named Taiwan patent attorney handling your case, and whether that person reads and responds to your Japanese specification directly. Second, whether claims are drafted in Chinese by the person who read your specification, or passed through a separate translation step; a translator's word choice fixes your enforceable scope and is difficult to correct later. Third, how statutory deadlines are controlled — Taiwan has non-extendable statutory periods, so ask whether a second person independently cross-checks deadlines. At the Japan Desk, the person handling your matter reviews the Japanese specification directly and reports back in Japanese.
Can you handle the specification itself in Japanese?
Yes. We review the Japanese specification as filed and return our comments in Japanese, so you do not have to wait for a Chinese translation before getting our view. Filing reports, office-action summaries, recommended responses and quotes are also provided in Japanese.
Can I deal with WISECODE in Japanese?
Yes — the Japan Desk provides Japanese-language communication and reporting.
Can you cover both Taiwan and China?
Yes. We handle TIPO matters directly and CNIPA matters through our established China partner.
Do you have China patent qualification?
Our principal is a qualified PRC patent agent, supporting China patent and FTO work.
How long does a Taiwan trademark or patent filing take?
A Taiwan trademark registration typically takes about 10–12 months from filing to registration if there is no opposition (opposition can be filed within 3 months of publication under Trademark Act Article 48). Patent timelines vary by type — design patents are fastest, invention patents take longer due to substantive examination.
How do we get started with the Japan Desk?
Send us your Taiwan or China IP question in Japanese or English — trademark, patent, FTO, or a filing you need coordinated — and the Japan Desk will confirm scope and next steps before any work begins.
Contact the Japan Desk
Tell us your Taiwan or China IP question and the Japan Desk will outline the next steps in Japanese.
Helpful to include:
- Target territory: Taiwan, China or both
- Matter type: trademark, patent, design, FTO or dispute
- Priority or deadline information
- Preferred reporting language
Last updated: June 2026