Episode 9

In recent years, the number of trademark registration applications has been on the rise, with approximately 60% of applications being filed by individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises. However, the number of unregistered cases after registration assessment is also increasing. Furthermore, approximately 80% of claims are successful in non-use cancellation trials (Article 50 of the Trademark Law) (https://www.jpo.go.jp/resources/shingikai/sangyo-kouzou/shousai/shohyo_shoi/document/t_mark_paper09new/ 01.pdf).
This is because individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises have become aware of their rights, and some patent (trademark) firms have made low-cost trademark registration applications a selling point, leading to an increase in the number of easy trademark registration applications.
The object of protection under the Trademark Act is not the trademark itself, but the business credit embodied in the trademark (Article 1 of the Act). The purpose is to establish a brand and make your business successful, and trademark registration is a means to that end.
Even after a trademark is registered, especially in highly competitive fields, competitors may request a trial to invalidate the trademark registration (Article 46 of the Act). In this case, you must protect your registered trademark. Registering a trademark is just one step in the journey to establishing your brand and building a successful business. If you apply for trademark registration because it's cheap even though you have no purpose or plan to use it, and if you don't register it even if it's approved, or if you don't use it even after registering, the application fee will end up being wasted.
Some patent (trademark) firms that make low-cost trademark registration applications their selling point waive the registration fee after the registration decision is made. For such firms, whether the applicant registers or not, the fee the firm receives remains the same; if the applicant does not register, it actually saves time and effort.