Underwood & Associates U.S. & International Patent Protection

U.S. Patent Filing for Applicants from Japan

Japanese companies have filed in the United States longer, and more steadily, than applicants from almost anywhere else. If you manage U.S. filings for a Japanese company or patent firm, you know the routine. What changed in 2026 is who may do the filing.

Since July 20, 2026, the USPTO requires applicants domiciled outside the U.S. to be represented by a registered U.S. patent practitioner. Papers filed on or after that date, including in already-pending applications, need U.S. counsel of record. What the rule means for your portfolio

From your JPO or PCT application to a U.S. filing

  • PCT national stage. Most Japanese-origin U.S. applications arrive as national-stage entries from international applications filed in Japanese with the JPO as receiving office. We prepare and file the U.S. entry before your 30-month date, including the priority claim.
  • Direct U.S. filing under the Paris Convention. A U.S. non-provisional claiming priority to your JPO application within the 12-month priority year.

Our fee is a flat $750 through the official filing receipt: inventor declaration, power of attorney, assignment recordation, information disclosure statement, and the filing itself included. Complete cost breakdown with current USPTO fees

Translation

If your international application was published in Japanese, an English translation of the specification, claims, and abstract is required at U.S. national-stage entry. The flat rate covers filing your completed, translated application; preparing the translation is separate. Japanese firms almost always have established translation channels. We work from your translation and review what we file for U.S. formal compliance.

Priority documents

The JPO participates in the WIPO Digital Access Service (DAS): for Paris Convention filings, give us the DAS access code and the USPTO retrieves the certified copy electronically. For national-stage entries, the priority document travels with the international file.

Working with Japanese patent firms

We serve as U.S. associate for benrishi firms: you keep the client relationship, we handle signing, filing, and prosecution at the USPTO and report each action to you. The 13-14 hour time difference works in your favor. Instructions sent at the end of your business day are in our morning inbox, and urgent filings instructed overnight are often completed the same U.S. business day.

Taking over pending U.S. matters

If the July 2026 rule left applications without eligible counsel of record, send the application numbers and next due dates. We confirm within one business day whether we can take over in time. More on transfers

Initiate a filing request or contact us with your application number and deadline.