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Trademark race for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games

2018年9月29日Article 4(1)(vi), OLYMPIC, Olympic Rings, Olympic symbolArticle 4(1)(vi), Device mark, Famous mark, Trademark AppealMasaki MIKAMI

The Appeal Board of Japan Patent Office (JPO) refused Trademark Application No. 2016-85559 for a device mark consisting of metallic rings on goods of metallic fishing nets in class 6 on the ground of conflict with Article 4(1)(vi) of the Japan...

ROLEX Unsuccessful in Trademark Battle Over Crown Logo

2018年9月22日Article 4(1)(xv), Likelihood of confusion, Rolex, Rolex crown, Trademark oppositionArticle 4(1)(xv), Device mark, Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Madrid Protocol, Trademark OppositionMasaki MIKAMI

In a recent trademark decision, the Opposition Board of Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition against IR no. 1263679 filed by Rolex SA, Swiss manufacturer of luxurious watches, based on the iconic Rolex crown.

[Opposition case...

IP High Court: “VANSNEAKER” is confusingly similar to famous “VANS” sneakers

2018年9月15日Article 4(1)(xi), IP High Court, VAN Jacket, VANS, VANSNEAKERArticle 4(1)(xi), Famous mark, IP High Court, Likelihood of confusion, Similarity of mark, Trademark OppositionMasaki MIKAMI

The IP High Court ruled on August 29, 2018 to uphold the Japan Patent Office (JPO) decision to cancel TM Reg. No. 5916735 for the mark “VANSNEAKER” over shoes in class 25 due to a conflict with TM Reg. No. 5245474 for famous mark...

Trademark battle over slogan : Think different vs Tick different

2018年9月8日Apple, Article 4(1)(xi), Swatch, Think different, Tick different, Trademark oppositionArticle 4(1)(xi), Composite mark, Likelihood of confusion, Madrid Protocol, Similarity of mark, Slogans, Trademark OppositionMasaki MIKAMI

Swiss watch giant Swatch has failed to stop US tech giant Apple from registering “Think Different” as a trademark, which Swatch argued segues too closely to its own “Tick Different” trademark.

THINK DIFFERENT

Apple's "THINK...

Fashion design and copycat

2018年9月2日Article 2(1)(iii), copycat fashion, Tokyo District Court, Unfair Competition Prevention ActUnfair Competition Prevention ActMasaki MIKAMI

On July 30, the Tokyo District Court delivered a ruling in the case of copycat fashion dispute pertinent to the shape of cold shoulder blouse.
[Case no. Heisei 29(Wa)30499]

Cold Shoulder Blouse

The case was brought into the...

Is Polaroid Photo Frame trademarked?

2018年8月26日Article 3(1)(vi), Japan Trademark Law, JPO, PolaroidArticle 3(1)(vi), Device mark, Inherent distinctiveness, Refusal appeal, Trademark AppealMasaki MIKAMI

In a recent decision, the Appeal Board of Japan Patent Office (JPO) admitted trademark registration for the Polaroid Photo Frame design mark (see below) in relation to services of photo printing, digital on-demand printing, processing of...

Google victorious in trademark dispute for YouTube icon

2018年8月18日Article 4(1)(x), Article 4(1)(xv), Google, invalidation trial, Japan Trademark Law, Likelihood of confusion, YouTube, YouTube iconArticle 4(1)(x), Article 4(1)(xv), Composite mark, Device mark, Famous mark, Invalidation trial, Likelihood of confusion, Similarity of markMasaki MIKAMI

The Trial Board of Japan Patent Office (JPO) recently upheld Google’s invalidation petition against TM Reg. no. 5665763 for the “Video Blog” mark in combination with figurative element (see below) due to similarity to YouTube icon and a...

Trademark Battle: SPEC vs. SPECK

2018年8月11日Article 4(1)(xi), Samsonite, SPEC, SPECK, Trademark oppositionArticle 4(1)(xi), Madrid Protocol, Similarity of mark, Trademark OppositionMasaki MIKAMI

In a trademark opposition filed by Samsonite IP Holdings S.à.r.l., an owner of IR no. 1024440 for the mark “SPECK”, against Japanese TM Reg. no. 5980195 for the mark “SPEC”, the Opposition Board of Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed the...

Aston Villa lost trademark battle over rampant lion emblem

2018年8月5日Article 4(1)(xi), Aston Villa, Lion, Rampant lion, Trademark oppositionArticle 4(1)(xi), Composite mark, Device mark, Similarity of mark, Trademark OppositionMasaki MIKAMI

In a trademark battle over rampant lion emblem, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition filed by Aston Villa Football Club Limited, one of the oldest and most successful football clubs in English football, holding that relevant...

Facebook Victory in Battle Over “F” icon

2018年7月28日Article 4(1)(xv), f logo, facebook, JAPAN PATENT OFFICE, Japan Trademark Law, Likelihood of confusion, Trademark oppositionArticle 4(1)(xv), Device mark, Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Similarity of mark, Trademark OppositionMasaki MIKAMI

In a recent administrative decision to trademark opposition filed by Facebook Incorporated., the Opposition Board of Japan Patent Office (JPO) declared cancellation of trademark registration no. 5927001 due to a likelihood of confusion with...

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