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Japan IP High Court Refuses Trademark Protection for Orange Color Mark

2020年7月12日Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(iii), Article 3(2), colormark, hitachi, inherent distinctiveness, JAPAN PATENT OFFICE, Japan Trademark Law, non-traditional trademark, Secondary meaning, single colorAcquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(iii), Article 3(2), Colormark, Inherent distinctiveness, IP High Court, New type of trademark, Trademark AppealMasaki MIKAMI

On 23 June 2020, the Japan IP High Court decided a case concerning a single color mark that was rejected for registration by the Appeal Board of the Japan Patent Office ("JPO").

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Trademark Applications Drop as Pandemic Pushes Japan into Recession

2020年7月4日coronavirus, COVID-19, JAPAN PATENT OFFICE, JPO, new trademark application, pandemicJPO AnnouncementMasaki MIKAMI

Japan's economy has slipped into recession
for the first time since 2015 in the last quarter, putting the nation on course
for its deepest slump as the coronavirus crisis ravages businesses and
consumers. First-quarter...

Japan IP High Court ruling: “I♡JAPAN” lacks distinctiveness as a trademark

2020年6月28日Article 3(1)(vi), I love Japan, inherent distinctiveness, IP High Court, JAPAN PATENT OFFICE, Japan Trademark Law, JPO, lack of distinctiveness, trademark appeal, trademark applicationAbbreviation, Article 3(1)(vi), Composite mark, compound mark, Device mark, Inherent distinctiveness, IP High Court, Refusal appeal, Trademark AppealMasaki MIKAMI

On June 17, 2020, the Japan IP High Court affirmed the JPO’s rejection of the “I♡JAPAN” mark in relation to various goods of class 14,16,18 and 24 due to a lack of distinctiveness. [Judicial case no. Reiwa...

Japan IP High Court sided with Apple Inc. in “CORE ML” trademark dispute

2020年6月20日Apple Inc., Article 4(1)(xi), Composite mark, CORE MIL, IP High Court, JAPAN PATENT OFFICE, Japan Trademark Law, Seiko, similarity of mark, Supreme Court, trademark appealAbbreviation, Article 4(1)(xi), Composite mark, compound mark, Inherent distinctiveness, IP High Court, Refusal appeal, Similarity of mark, Trademark AppealMasaki MIKAMI

On May 20, 2020, the Japan IP High Court denied the JPO decision and sided with Apple Inc. by finding the “CORE ML” mark is dissimilar to senior trademark registration no. 5611369 for word mark “CORE” in...

Sweet, but long road to register “Ghana” on chocolates

2020年6月13日Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(iii), Article 4(1)(xvi), Chocolate, Ghana, inherent distinctiveness, JAPAN PATENT OFFICE, Japan Trademark Law, Lotte, trademark appealAcquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(iii), Article 3(2), Article 4(1)(xvi), Famous mark, Geographical indication, Inherent distinctiveness, Trademark Appeal, Trademark Examination GuidelineMasaki MIKAMI

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) allowed trademark registration of “Ghana” in connection with chocolates of class 30 by finding acquired distinctiveness as a source indicator of Lotte Co., Ltd., a Korea-based...

LEPUS vs. LEPS

2020年6月6日Article 4(1)(xi), GS Yuasa, JAPAN PATENT OFFICE, Japan Trademark Law, LEPS, LEPUS, Mitsubishi Motors, Similarity of goods, similarity of markArticle 4(1)(xi), Refusal appeal, Similarity of goods, Similarity of mark, Trademark AppealMasaki MIKAMI

In an appeal decision, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) overturned the examiner’s rejection and decided to register trademark “LEPS” by finding dissimilarity to senior registration for mark “LEPUS” even if both...

JPO decided “Antithesis” dissimilar to a mark consisting of it and other eight terms placed in 9 rows

2020年5月31日antithesis, Article 4(1)(xi), JAPAN PATENT OFFICE, Japan Trademark Law, similarity of mark, trademark appealArticle 4(1)(xi), Composite mark, compound mark, Refusal appeal, Similarity of mark, Trademark AppealMasaki MIKAMI

In an administrative appeal disputing trademark similarity between TM registration no. 5661343 for word mark “Antithesis” with its transliteration in Japanese katakana and junior application no. 2017-101730 for a mark...

TWITTER Unsuccessful in “TWEET” Trademark Opposition at JPO

2020年5月23日Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), Famous mark, JAPAN PATENT OFFICE, Japan Trademark Law, Likelihood of confusion, tweet, tweets, twitterArticle 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Similarity of mark, Trademark OppositionMasaki MIKAMI

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed a trademark opposition claimed by social media giant, Twitter, Inc. against trademark registration no. 6138010 for word mark “TWEET” in class 33 by finding the TWEET mark is...

Never Register “BOND GIRL” Never Again

2020年5月16日007, Article 4(1)(vii), Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), Bond Girl, invalidation trial, James Bond, public order, Trademark oppositionArticle 4(1)(vii), Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), Famous mark, Invalidation trial, Likelihood of confusion, Similarity of mark, Trademark Opposition, Violation of public orderMasaki MIKAMI

In a recent administrative decision, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) sided with Danjaq, LLC, and declared invalidation of a wordmark “BOND GIRL” written in a Japanese katakana character in contravention...

Coronavirus Impact on Trademark Procedures in Japan

2020年5月9日coronavirus, COVID, JAPAN PATENT OFFICE, Japan Trademark Law, JPO, outbreak, trademark applicationTrademark Appeal, Trademark Examination GuidelineMasaki MIKAMI

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) has announced the measures it has taken to help foreign users for trademarks during the coronavirus outbreak.

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