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Apple Inc. Defeated in Trademark case over the name ‘Mac’ in Japan

2019年6月15日Apple Inc., Article 4(1)(xv), Japan Trademark Law, Likelihood of confusion, Mac, Trademark oppositionAbbreviation, Article 4(1)(xv), Composite mark, Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Trademark OppositionMasaki MIKAMI

The Opposition Board of Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition filed by the U.S. tech giant, Apple Inc. against trademark registration no. 5986073 for a word mark “Face2MAC” due to unlikelihood of confusion...

Trademark dispute over Shogun Emblem of the Samurai Era

2019年6月8日Article 4(1)(vi), Article 4(1)(vii), Article 4(1)(xv), edo shogunate, family crest, Japan Trademark Law, samurai, shogun, shogun emblem, Tokugawa, tokugawa crest, tokugawa museum, tokugawa shogunate, trademark appeal, trefoil awoiArticle 4(1)(vi), Article 4(1)(vii), Article 4(1)(xv), Composite mark, Device mark, Famous mark, Geographical indication, Likelihood of confusion, Similarity of mark, Trademark AppealMasaki MIKAMI

In a recent appeal trial over trademark dispute, the Trademark Appeal Board within the Japan Patent Office (JPO) overturned the Examiner’s determination and held that a combination mark with Tokugawa crest image and literal elements written in...

Attending the 141th INTA Annual Meeting in Boston (May 18-22)

2019年6月1日Annual meeting, Boston, INTA, trademark conferenceINTAMasaki MIKAMI

MARKS IP LAW FIRM was represented at the 141^st International Trademark Associations (INTA) Annual Meeting by two members of our firm, Masaki Mikami, Toshiko Okuno, to be held in Boston,...

Partial revision of the Japan Trademark Law in force on May 27, 2019

2019年5月26日Article 31(1), Article 4(1)(vi), Article 4(2), Famous mark, Non-exclusive license, Revision of trademark law, trademark licenseArticle 31, Article 4(1)(vi), Article 4(2), Famous mark, New Trademark LawMasaki MIKAMI

Partial revision of the Japan Trademark Law which aims to amend the Article 31 (1) was promulgated on May 17, 2019 and takes effect on May 27, 2019.

Non-exclusive license for famous mark owned by public...

Giorgio Armani defeated with trademark battle over V-shaped wing device

2019年5月20日Armani, Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xv), Giorgio Armani, Likelihood of confusion, Trademark oppositionArticle 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), Device mark, Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Similarity of mark, Trademark OppositionMasaki MIKAMI

In a recent administrative trademark decision , the Opposition Board of Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition filed by Giorgio Armani S.p.A against trademark registration no. 5983697 for V-shaped wing device mark on bags in class 18...

Trademark trolls target New Japan era name “REIWA”

2019年5月11日Era name, New era, REIWA, trademark trollInherent distinctiveness, Trademark Examination GuidelineMasaki MIKAMI

Over 1,200 applications filed for Reiwa-related trademarks in China within a month after announcement of the new Imperial era name “REIWA” by the Japanese government on April 1, 2019.

According to a search site of China's trademark office,...

GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION BOURBON LOSES TRADEMARK OPPOSITION

2019年5月3日Article 4(1)(vii), Article 4(1)(xvi), BOURBON, bourbon whiskey, geographical indication, Kentucky, ROYCE, ROYCE' BOURBON, Trademark oppositionArticle 4(1)(vii), Article 4(1)(xvi), Composite mark, Geographical indication, Trademark OppositionMasaki MIKAMI

In a recent decision, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) has dismissed the opposition filed by Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), a US non-profit organization which represents the interests of producers and traders of spirit...

PUMA Triumphs in Trademark Battle over Iconic Jumping Cat Logo

2019年4月28日Article 4(1)(vii), Article 4(1)(xv), invalidation trial, IP High Court, Jumping Cat, Likelihood of confusion, PUMA, PUMA Jumping Cat Logo, Trademark opposition, Trademark ParodyArticle 4(1)(vii), Article 4(1)(xv), Device mark, Famous mark, Invalidation trial, IP High Court, Likelihood of confusion, Violation of public order1 CommentMasaki MIKAMI

After eight years of prolonged dispute, PUMA SE could achieve a victory over trademark battle involving famous its iconic jumping cat logo. The Japan IP High Court has overturned decisions by the Japan Patent Office (JPO) which said that a...

Trademark registration for Tasaki’s Akoya pearls ring

2019年4月21日Acquired distinctiveness, Akoya pearls, Article 3(1)(iii), Article 3(2), TASAKIAcquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(iii), Article 3(2), Device mark, Inherent distinctiveness, Three dimensional mark, Trademark AppealMasaki MIKAMI

In March 17, 2017, Japanese jewelry house TASAKI & Co., Ltd., the Japanese leading producer of Akoya pearls, filed an application for trademark registration at the Japan Patent Office (JPO) for the following three-dimensional mark for rings...

WTR report: The first individual in history to have filed over 100,000 trademark applications

2019年4月14日Best Licensing, Ueda, World Trademark ReviewUncategorizedMasaki MIKAMI

A notorious and incredibly prolific trademark application filer in Japan, Ikuhiro Ueda, is causing headaches for brands in Japan.

As the figures below show, the rate of the filings – both using the applicant name ‘Ikuhiro Ueda’...

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