Two Building Designs and Two Interior Designs Successfully Registered under the Design Act for the First Time in Japan

Note: The illustrations of the respective registered designs below are partial excerpts from the submitted applications.

1. Background

Recently, an increasing number of companies have been creating brand value by using characteristic, ingenious designs for the interiors and exteriors of their stores as an effort to facilitate their services and sales of their products. Moreover, in recent years, some companies that produce office furniture and related equipment have been engaged in designing offices which have characteristic features and producing them to their customers, while making use of their own products.

In light of this trend, the government fundamentally revised the Design Act in 2019. As a result, from April 2020, applicants are eligible to protect a building-exterior design under the design rights. An interior design can also be protected as a single design under their design rights if the design consists of a combination and arrangement of multiple goods and other items (e.g., desks and chairs); and decorations (e.g., on walls and floors); and if these components together form a single aesthetic.

2. Building designs and interior designs successfully registered for the first time in Japan

The JPO hereby announces that the two building designs and two interior designs below were successfully registered for the first time in Japan.

(1) Building designs

[i] Japan Design Registration No. 1671773: “Commercial Building” (Applicant: Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.)

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Note: The applicant has filed a request to have “the exception to lack of novelty” provision be applied.

• Reference: UNIQLO PARK Yokohama Bayside Store (picture provided by Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.)

[ii] Japan Design Registration No. 1671774: “Station Building” (Applicant: East Japan Railway Company)

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• Reference: Koenguchi Station Building, Ueno Station (picture provided by East Japan Railway Company)

(2) Interior designs

[i] Japan Design Registration No. 1671152: “Book Store Interior” (Applicant: Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd.)

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Note: The applicant has filed a request to have “the exception to lack of novelty” provision be applied.

• Reference: Store of Tsutaya Books Co., Ltd. (picture provided by Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd.)

[ii] Japan Design Registration No. 1671153: “Interior of Conveyor Belt Sushi Store” (Applicant: Kura Sushi Inc.)

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Note: The applicant has filed a request to have “the exception to lack of novelty” provision be applied.

• Reference: Kura Sushi Asakusa ROX Store (picture provided by Kura Sushi Inc.)

3. Reference

For details of the Revised Design Act FY2019, visit the following website.

• Website exclusively for the Revised Design Act FY2019 (in Japanese)

4. Future schedule

The JPO will release the designs of graphic images as well if such designs are successfully registered.

Division in Charge

Design Division, Patent and Design Examination Department (Physics, Optics, Social Infrastructure and Design), JPO