Notary IP Licensing Agreement with Japanese Counterparties (Trademark / Patent / Copyright)
Thai documents used abroad and foreign documents used in Thailand both require a Notary Public seal before the destination legalisation step — the chain runs in both directions. Licensing Thai IP to a Japanese company — bilingual agreements notarised for JPO recording and Japanese court enforceability. 3 Notarial Services Attorneys on desk — reach them via LINE @NYCLI.
Why Notary Public matters for Japan
Licensing Thai IP to a Japanese company — bilingual agreements notarised for JPO recording and Japanese court enforceability.
Documents in this class are filed with Japan Patent Office (JPO), Japanese Courts, Japanese Licensees, each with specific formatting NYC knows from continuous casework — Notarial Services Attorneys, sworn translators and MFA / embassy messengers all work the file inside one folder.
Common pitfalls when notarising for — Legalisation chain
- 1Notary Public — bilingual (TH / EN or TH / JP) licensing agreement
- 2MFA Apostille (Japan is a Hague member since 1970)
- 3Filed at the JPO or attached to the Japanese partner's tax filing
Japan is a Hague Apostille member. Since Thailand joined the Convention on 25 Dec 2025, Consular Legalisation is no longer needed for most documents.
Fees and turnaround for — Frequently notarised documents
- Master IP Licence Agreement (bilingual)
- Trademark / Patent registration certificate — certified true copy
- Notarised Power of Attorney to Japanese counsel
- Withholding tax certificate (for royalty remittance under Thailand–Japan DTA)
Frequently asked questions about — Local tips (Japan)
- •Japan enforces IP licences per the Trademark Act — exclusive licences must be recorded at the JPO to bind third parties.
- •Royalty payments Thailand ↔ Japan qualify for the reduced 10% withholding under the DTA — attach the Certificate of Residence to every remittance.
- •Japanese courts prefer bilingual contracts (JP left, EN right); the notary certificate must reference both language versions.
FAQ — Japan
Must the agreement be in Japanese?
Not required for validity, but bilingual TH / JP is strongly recommended for court enforceability and JPO recording.
Is JPO recording mandatory?
Only for exclusive licences and to bind third parties — non-exclusive licences are valid between the parties without recording.
What is the withholding tax on royalties?
The Thailand–Japan DTA caps royalty withholding at 10%, provided a Certificate of Residence is attached.