A Japanese TM can be used for Brand Registry in the US.
OK. Not exactly a groundbreaking tip, as it clearly states this in the Amazon help pages, but I thought it was worth mentioning. I recently applied for brand registry in the US, and was refused multiple times because they said that my TM was still being “filed” and not “registered”. After 3 weeks I finally found out the reason. The US Brand Registry team don’t understand how to verify international trade marks…
I know, ridiculous, right?!
They use a 3rd party website, and were searching the wrong way on it. I showed them, and finally got approved. But this was after they refused to believe the official Japanese Patent office website results (in English), and my TM documentation that I submitted several times.
What’s more surprising, is that when I had almost completely given up with the idiots in the US Brand Registry Department, I contacted one of the Global Selling Team in Japan. Their job is to support Japanese sellers opening accounts in the US. When I told him the story, he said that I would need to apply for a US TM, as you can’t use Japanese ones…
Oh dear. And his job is to help Japanese sellers…
So apparently, it’s not well known that you can use Japanese TMs in the US, and I think it’s a good little tip!
*This post originated from a post in the Amazon Japan Facebook group, “Amazon Japan PL”. The information may well have changed by the time you read this. Please check the DATE of the post before you make any decisions based on this information!
