Trademark registration for Tasaki’s Akoya pearls ring

, , , , Acquired 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...

HISAMITSU unsuccessful in registering a shape of “Salonpas”

, , , , Article 3(1)(iii), Device mark, Inherent distinctiveness, Trademark AppealMasaki MIKAMI

The Appeal Board of Japan Patent Office (JPO) disallowed registration of a shape of famous Japanese pain relief patches in the name of “Salonpas” manufactured by Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc. due to lack of inherent distinctiveness in...

JPO denied registering GRAND CANYON as trademark

, , , Article 3(1)(iii), Geographical indication, Trademark Appeal, Trademark Examination GuidelineMasaki MIKAMI

In a recent appeal decision, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) upheld examiner’s refusal and decided to reject trademark “GRAND CANYON” in connection with clothing and shoes of class 25 due to lack of distinctiveness. [Appeal case no....

Who associates “Pen-Pineapple-Apple-pen” with Apple Inc.?

, , , , , , , , , Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), Composite mark, Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Trademark OppositionMasaki MIKAMI

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition filed by Apple Incorporated, a US corporation, against TM Registration no. 6031236 for word mark “Pen Pineapple Apple Pen” written in alphabets and Katakana characters, and allowed the...

IP High Court ruling: “BULK AAA” confusingly similar to “BULK HOMME”

, , , , , , Article 4(1)(xi), Composite mark, Invalidation trial, IP High Court, Similarity of markMasaki MIKAMI

On March 7, 2019, the Japan IP High Court revoked a decision by the Japan Patent Office (JPO) to invalidation trial over a dispute of similarity between trademark “BULK AAA” and “BULK HOMME”, and ruled “BULLK AAA” shall be...

Trademark Opposition: “DISCOVERY” vs. “DISCOVERER”

, , , , , Article 4(1)(xv), Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Similarity of goods, Similarity of mark, Trademark OppositionMasaki MIKAMI

In a recent administrative decision to trademark opposition filed by Jaguar Land Rover Limited who alleged trademark registration no. 6011666 for word mark “DISCOVERER” designating goods of “batteries and cells,...