# 不正競争防止法 / Unfair Competition Prevention Act — 第三章 (Chapter 3)

- Law: 不正競争防止法 (Unfair Competition Prevention Act), 平成五年法律第四十七号
- English title "Unfair Competition Prevention Act": Ministry of Justice translation
- Kind: Act — the distinction between 法律 (Act), 政令 (Cabinet Order), 省令 (Ministerial Order) and 条例 (local ordinance) decides who may issue it and what it may say.
- Provision: 第三章 (Chapter 3) — address `ch-3`
- Text in force since: 2026-05-21
- URL (the page that opens at this provision): https://japanlaw.org/en/unfair-competition-prevention-act/ch-3
- Permanent URL (e-Gov law ID, never renamed): https://japanlaw.org/l/405AC0000000047/ch-3
- Every provision below carries its address and both URLs on the line under it.
- Japanese text: e-Gov 法令検索, Digital Agency (デジタル庁). English: as marked on each line below.

Only the Japanese as published by the government has legal effect; the text
below is a copy of it. Every English rendering below is a translation and
says which kind: the Ministry of Justice's translation, or this
site's machine translation, whose model and date the Sources list names.
They are never merged and never substituted for one another.

---

## 第三章　国際約束に基づく禁止行為 — Chapter III Acts Prohibited based on International Agreements
<sup>heading: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>ch-3 · https://japanlaw.org/en/unfair-competition-prevention-act/ch-3 · https://japanlaw.org/l/405AC0000000047/ch-3</sup>

### 第十六条（外国の国旗等の商業上の使用禁止） — (Prohibition on the Commercial Use of the National Flag of Foreign States)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-16 · https://japanlaw.org/en/unfair-competition-prevention-act/art-16 · https://japanlaw.org/l/405AC0000000047/art-16</sup>

**第一項**  何人も、外国の国旗若しくは国の紋章その他の記章であって経済産業省令で定めるもの（以下「外国国旗等」という。）と同一若しくは類似のもの（以下「外国国旗等類似記章」という。）を商標として使用し、又は外国国旗等類似記章を商標として使用した商品を譲渡し、引き渡し、譲渡若しくは引渡しのために展示し、輸出し、輸入し、若しくは電気通信回線を通じて提供し、若しくは外国国旗等類似記章を商標として使用して役務を提供してはならない。ただし、その外国国旗等の使用の許可（許可に類する行政処分を含む。以下同じ。）を行う権限を有する外国の官庁の許可を受けたときは、この限りでない。
<sup>art-16/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/unfair-competition-prevention-act/art-16/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/405AC0000000047/art-16/par-1</sup>
No person may use anything that is identical or similar to a foreign state's national flag, coat of arms, or any other emblem specified by the Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (referred to as "foreign state's national flag, etc." below) (such identical or similar items are referred to as "emblems similar to a foreign state's national flag, etc." below) as their trademark. No person may transfer, deliver, display for the purpose of transfer or delivery, export, import, or provide through telecommunications lines goods using an emblem similar to a foreign state's national flag, etc. as their trademark. No person may provide services while using an emblem similar to a foreign state's national flag, etc. as a trademark; provided, however, that this does not apply if permission has been obtained from the government agency of the foreign state authorized to grant permission (including an administrative action similar to permission; the same applies below) for the use of the foreign state's national flag, etc.
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

**第二項**  前項に規定するもののほか、何人も、商品の原産地を誤認させるような方法で、同項の経済産業省令で定める外国の国の紋章（以下「外国紋章」という。）を使用し、又は外国紋章を使用した商品を譲渡し、引き渡し、譲渡若しくは引渡しのために展示し、輸出し、輸入し、若しくは電気通信回線を通じて提供し、若しくは外国紋章を使用して役務を提供してはならない。ただし、その外国紋章の使用の許可を行う権限を有する外国の官庁の許可を受けたときは、この限りでない。
<sup>art-16/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/unfair-competition-prevention-act/art-16/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/405AC0000000047/art-16/par-2</sup>
Beyond what is prescribed in the preceding paragraph, no person may use a foreign state's coat of arms specified by the Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in the preceding paragraph (referred to as "coat of arms of a foreign state" below) in a manner likely to mislead as to the place of origin of goods; no person may transfer, deliver, display for the purpose of transfer or delivery, export, import or provide through telecommunications lines goods using the coat of arms of a foreign state in that manner. No person may provide services while using the coat of arms of a foreign state in the same manner; provided, however, that this does not apply if permission has been obtained from the government agency of the foreign state authorized to grant permission to use the coat of arms of a foreign state.
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

**第三項**  何人も、外国の政府若しくは地方公共団体の監督用若しくは証明用の印章若しくは記号であって経済産業省令で定めるもの（以下「外国政府等記号」という。）と同一若しくは類似のもの（以下「外国政府等類似記号」という。）をその外国政府等記号が用いられている商品若しくは役務と同一若しくは類似の商品若しくは役務の商標として使用し、又は外国政府等類似記号を当該商標として使用した商品を譲渡し、引き渡し、譲渡若しくは引渡しのために展示し、輸出し、輸入し、若しくは電気通信回線を通じて提供し、若しくは外国政府等類似記号を当該商標として使用して役務を提供してはならない。ただし、その外国政府等記号の使用の許可を行う権限を有する外国の官庁の許可を受けたときは、この限りでない。
<sup>art-16/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/en/unfair-competition-prevention-act/art-16/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/l/405AC0000000047/art-16/par-3</sup>
No person may use anything that is identical or similar to the seal or sign used by the national or local government of a foreign state for supervision or certification purposes, as specified by the Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (referred to as "official markings of a foreign national government, etc." below) (such identical or similar items are referred to as "official markings similar to that of a foreign national government, etc." below) as a trademark on goods or for services that are identical or similar to those for which the official marking of a foreign national government, etc. is used. No person may transfer, deliver, display for the purpose of transfer or delivery, export, import or provide through telecommunications lines goods using an official marking similar to that of a foreign national government, etc. as their trademark. No person may provide services while using an official marking similar to that of a foreign national government, etc. as a trademark; provided, however, that this does not apply if permission has been obtained from the government agency of the foreign state that is authorized to grant permission for use of the official marking of a foreign national government, etc.
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第十七条（国際機関の標章の商業上の使用禁止） — (Prohibition of the Commercial Use of Marks of International Organizations)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-17 · https://japanlaw.org/en/unfair-competition-prevention-act/art-17 · https://japanlaw.org/l/405AC0000000047/art-17</sup>

**第一項**  何人も、その国際機関（政府間の国際機関及びこれに準ずるものとして経済産業省令で定める国際機関をいう。以下この条において同じ。）と関係があると誤認させるような方法で、国際機関を表示する標章であって経済産業省令で定めるものと同一若しくは類似のもの（以下「国際機関類似標章」という。）を商標として使用し、又は国際機関類似標章を商標として使用した商品を譲渡し、引き渡し、譲渡若しくは引渡しのために展示し、輸出し、輸入し、若しくは電気通信回線を通じて提供し、若しくは国際機関類似標章を商標として使用して役務を提供してはならない。ただし、この国際機関の許可を受けたときは、この限りでない。
<sup>art-17/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/unfair-competition-prevention-act/art-17/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/405AC0000000047/art-17/par-1</sup>
No person may use anything that is identical or similar to a mark representing an international organization (meaning an intergovernmental organization or an equivalent organization specified by the Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; the same applies in this Article below), which is specified by the Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (such identical or similar items are referred to as "mark similar to that of an international organization" below) as a trademark in a manner likely to mislead as to the existence of a relationship with that international organization. No person may transfer, deliver, display for the purpose of transfer or delivery, export, import or provide through telecommunications lines, goods using a mark similar to that of an international organization as their trademark in that manner. No person may provide services while using a mark similar to that of an international organization as their trademark, in the same manner; provided, however, that this does not apply if permission from the relevant international organization has been obtained.
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第十八条（外国公務員等に対する不正の利益の供与等の禁止） — (Prohibition against the Provision of Wrongful Gains to Foreign Public Officials)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-18 · https://japanlaw.org/en/unfair-competition-prevention-act/art-18 · https://japanlaw.org/l/405AC0000000047/art-18</sup>

**第一項**  何人も、外国公務員等に対し、国際的な商取引に関して営業上の不正の利益を得るために、その外国公務員等に、その職務に関する行為をさせ若しくはさせないこと、又はその地位を利用して他の外国公務員等にその職務に関する行為をさせ若しくはさせないようにあっせんをさせることを目的として、金銭その他の利益を供与し、又はその申込み若しくは約束をしてはならない。
<sup>art-18/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/unfair-competition-prevention-act/art-18/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/405AC0000000047/art-18/par-1</sup>
No person may give, offer to give, or promise to give any money or other benefit to a foreign public official, etc. in order to have them act or refrain from acting in relation to the performance of their official duties, or to have them use their position to influence another foreign public official, etc. to act or refrain from acting in such a manner, so that the person in question can make any wrongful gain in business regarding international commercial transactions.
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

**第二項**  前項において「外国公務員等」とは、次に掲げる者をいう。
<sup>art-18/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/unfair-competition-prevention-act/art-18/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/405AC0000000047/art-18/par-2</sup>
The term "foreign public official, etc." as used in the preceding paragraph means any of the following persons:
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **一**  外国の政府又は地方公共団体の公務に従事する者
  <sup>art-18/par-2/item-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/unfair-competition-prevention-act/art-18/par-2/item-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/405AC0000000047/art-18/par-2/item-1</sup>
  any person that engages in public service for a national or local foreign government;
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **二**  公共の利益に関する特定の事務を行うために外国の特別の法令により設立されたものの事務に従事する者
  <sup>art-18/par-2/item-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/unfair-competition-prevention-act/art-18/par-2/item-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/405AC0000000047/art-18/par-2/item-2</sup>
  any person that engages in the business operations of an entity established under foreign special laws to carry out specific business operations in the public interest;
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **三**  一又は二以上の外国の政府又は地方公共団体により、発行済株式のうち議決権のある株式の総数若しくは出資の金額の総額の百分の五十を超える当該株式の数若しくは出資の金額を直接に所有され、又は役員（取締役、監査役、理事、監事及び清算人並びにこれら以外の者で事業の経営に従事しているものをいう。）の過半数を任命され若しくは指名されている事業者であって、その事業の遂行に当たり、外国の政府又は地方公共団体から特に権益を付与されているものの事務に従事する者その他これに準ずる者として政令で定める者
  <sup>art-18/par-2/item-3 · https://japanlaw.org/en/unfair-competition-prevention-act/art-18/par-2/item-3 · https://japanlaw.org/l/405AC0000000047/art-18/par-2/item-3</sup>
  any person that is a business engaged in business operations where one or more national or local governments of foreign states directly own more than 50 percent of the voting shares or capital subscription of the business, or where the majority of officers (meaning directors, auditors, council members, inspectors, liquidators, and others involved in the management of the business) are appointed or designated by one or more national or local foreign governments, and that is granted special rights or interests by such governments for the performance of its business; or any person specified by Cabinet Order as an equivalent person;
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **四**  国際機関（政府又は政府間の国際機関によって構成される国際機関をいう。次号において同じ。）の公務に従事する者
  <sup>art-18/par-2/item-4 · https://japanlaw.org/en/unfair-competition-prevention-act/art-18/par-2/item-4 · https://japanlaw.org/l/405AC0000000047/art-18/par-2/item-4</sup>
  any person that engages in public services for an international organization (meaning an international organization which is formed by governments or intergovernmental organizations); or
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **五**  外国の政府若しくは地方公共団体又は国際機関の権限に属する事務であって、これらの機関から委任されたものに従事する者
  <sup>art-18/par-2/item-5 · https://japanlaw.org/en/unfair-competition-prevention-act/art-18/par-2/item-5 · https://japanlaw.org/l/405AC0000000047/art-18/par-2/item-5</sup>
  any person that engages in business operations under the authority of the national or local government of a foreign state or an international organization and that are delegated by any of them to the person in question.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

---

## Cites
- art-16/par-2: 前項 → 不正競争防止法 第十六条第一項 (Article 16, paragraph (1)), art-16/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/unfair-competition-prevention-act/art-16/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/405AC0000000047/art-16/par-1
- art-17/par-1: この条 → 不正競争防止法 第十七条 (Article 17), art-17 — https://japanlaw.org/en/unfair-competition-prevention-act/art-17 · https://japanlaw.org/l/405AC0000000047/art-17
- art-18/par-2: 前項 → 不正競争防止法 第十八条第一項 (Article 18, paragraph (1)), art-18/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/unfair-competition-prevention-act/art-18/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/405AC0000000047/art-18/par-1
- art-18/par-2/item-4: 次号 → 不正競争防止法 第十八条第二項第五号 (Article 18, paragraph (2), item (v)), art-18/par-2/item-5 — https://japanlaw.org/en/unfair-competition-prevention-act/art-18/par-2/item-5 · https://japanlaw.org/l/405AC0000000047/art-18/par-2/item-5

---

## Sources

- e-Gov 法令検索, Digital Agency (デジタル庁) — 不正競争防止法 — the text in force from 2026-05-21 (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/405AC0000000047/20260521_507AC0000000039), retrieved 2026-10-11
- Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — Unfair Competition Prevention Act — Ministry of Justice translation (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4920/tb), retrieved 2026-10-11
- This site's parser, version 189 — 不正競争防止法 — structure, counts, cross-references and defined terms, computed 2026-10-11