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GODZILLA defeated GUZZILLA in IP High Court trademark battle

2018年6月23日Article 4(1)(xv), GODZILLA, GUZZILLA, invalidation trial, IP High Court, Likelihood of confusion, TOHOArticle 4(1)(xv), Famous mark, Invalidation trial, IP High Court, Likelihood of confusionMasaki MIKAMI

On June 12, 2018, the Japan IP High Court denied the JPO Trial Board decision and sided with TOHO Co., Ltd., a Japanese filmmaker that unleashed Godzilla on the world, in a trademark dispute between GODZILLA and GUZZILLA.
[Judicial case no....

Japan: Trademark Law Revision Act of 2018 in force on June 9

2018年6月17日Article 10(1), Division of trademark application, New Trademark LawDivision of trademark application, New Trademark LawMasaki MIKAMI

The Japan Trademark Law Revision Act of 2018 (Act No. 33) passing congress on May 23, 2018, was promulgated on May 30 and becomes effective on June 9, 2018.

Revision act sets a high bar for requisite in dividing a trademark application under...

JPO sided with Apple Inc. over trademark battle between Mac and MacEdge

2018年6月10日Apple Inc., Article 4(1)(xv), Likelihood of confusion, Mac, MacEgde, Trademark oppositionAbbreviation, Article 4(1)(xv), Composite mark, Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Trademark OppositionMasaki MIKAMI

Apple Inc. has won a trademark opposition it lodged against GIGAZONE INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., a Taiwanese company, over Japanese trademark registration no. 5877027 for word mark "MacEdge".
[Opposition case no. 2016-900375, Gazette issued date:...

JPO refused to register 3D shape of Mitsubishi Electric’s spiral escalator

2018年6月3日Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(iii), Article 3(2), JPO, Mitsubishi Electric, Secondary meaning, Spiral escalatorAcquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(iii), Article 3(2), Refusal appeal, Three dimensional mark, Trademark AppealMasaki MIKAMI

The Appeal Board of Japan Patent Office (JPO) disallowed registration of 3D shape of Mitsubishi Electric's spiral escalator due to lack of inherent distinctiveness and secondary meaning in relation to escalators, class 7. [Appeal case no....

JPO refused 3M Company to register “3M” in relation to vehicles regardless of renowned 3M logo

2018年5月26日3M, Article 3(1)(v), Japan Trademark LawAbbreviation, Article 3(1)(v), Famous mark, Inherent distinctiveness, Trademark AppealMasaki MIKAMI

In a recent decision, the Appeal Board of Japan Patent Office (JPO) did not allow registration of a word mark “3M” written in standard character due to a lack of distinctiveness in relation to vehicles (class 12). [Appeal case no....

Trademark Opposition: “HP” versus “HP MAKER”

2018年5月18日Article 4(1)(x), Article 4(1)(xv), HP, HP MAKER, Likelihood of confusion, Trademark oppositionAbbreviation, Acquired distinctiveness, Article 4(1)(x), Article 4(1)(xv), Composite mark, Famous mark, Trademark OppositionMasaki MIKAMI

In a trademark dispute between “HP” and “HP MAKER”, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition filed by Hewlett-Packard, an American multinational information technology company, holding that there is no likelihood of confusion...

APPLE took a painful bite at Apple design mark on medical services

2018年5月12日Apple, Apple logo, Article 4(1)(xv), Likelihood of confusion, medical services, Trademark oppositionArticle 4(1)(xv), Composite mark, Device mark, Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Trademark OppositionMasaki MIKAMI

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed a trademark opposition filed by the U.S. tech giant, Apple Inc. against trademark registration no. 5939652 for the Apple design mark in class 44.[Opposition case no. 2017-900222, Gazette issued date: April...

Adidas Fails in Trademark Battle over Adidas Trefoil Logo

2018年5月4日Adidas, Article 4(1)(vii), Article 4(1)(xv), international faith, Likelihood of confusion, Trademark opposition, Trefoil logoArticle 4(1)(vii), Article 4(1)(xv), Composite mark, Device mark, Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Trademark Opposition, Violation of public orderMasaki MIKAMI

The Opposition Board of Japan Patent Office (JPO) held in an opposition filed by Adidas AG (Opponent) that trademark registration no. 5897540 for the XIAT device mark (Opposed mark) shall remain as valid as ever and entirely dismissed Adidas’...

Trademark registration for Kikkoman’s Soy sauce 3D Bottle

2018年4月28日Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(2), Kikkoman, Soy sauce, three dimensional markAcquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(iii), Article 3(2), Composite mark, Famous mark, Inherent distinctiveness, Three dimensional markMasaki MIKAMI

In October 11, 2016, Kikkoman Corporation, the world's leading producer of soy sauce, filed an application for trademark registration at the Japan Patent Office (JPO) for the following three-dimensional colored mark for soy sauce in class...

Japan IP High Court Ruling – Shape of “Unit Shelf” functions as a source indicator of Ryohin Keikaku

2018年4月20日CAINZ, IP High Court, MUJI, Unfair Competition Prevention Act, Unit ShelfIP High Court, Likelihood of confusion, Trademark Opposition, Unfair Competition Prevention ActMasaki MIKAMI

The Japan IP High Court has affirmed an earlier ruling by the Tokyo District Court, and sided with Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd, an operator of the MUJI retail chain, in a lawsuit accusing CAINZ Corporation, the second largest DIY store chain in...

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