Blog

Japan: trademark registration of era names will be banned

2019年2月10日Era name, Heisei, trademark examination guidelineNew Trademark Law, Trademark Examination GuidelineMasaki MIKAMI

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) revised its screening criteria to prevent all era names from being registered as trademarks.

The amendment came as the country prepares for the change in May of the current era name following the abdication of...

Trademark race for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games – Episode 2

2019年2月2日Article 3(1)(vi), Heart shape, JPO, OLYMPIC, Olympic symbolArticle 3(1)(vi), Device mark, Famous markMasaki MIKAMI

The Appeal Board of Japan Patent Office (JPO) refused Trademark Application No. 2017-11978 for a device mark consisting of five interlaced heart shape logos for goods of clothing and footwear in class 25 because of similarity to Olympic rings...

KANGOL: Assessing the Similarity Between Hairbands and Head wear

2019年1月27日Article 4(1)(xi), KANGOL, Similarity of goods, Trademark oppositionArticle 4(1)(xi), Similarity of goods, Trademark OppositionMasaki MIKAMI

In a trademark opposition trial to seek cancellation of TM registration no. 6028674, the Opposition Board of Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed the opposition claimed by Kangol Limited, an English clothing company famous for its head wear,...

Serapian Loses Trademark Opposition against S device mark

2019年1月20日Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xv), Japan Trademark Law, Stefano Serapian, Trademark oppositionArticle 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xv), Device mark, Likelihood of confusion, Madrid Protocol, Similarity of mark, Trademark OppositionMasaki MIKAMI

The Italian-based fashion house Stefano Serapian S.r.l., known for its briefcases, handbags and purses opposed the registration in Japan of the trademark S logo owned by the Japanese company, Kabushiki Kaisha...

LUIS POULSEN Victory over trademark infringement lawsuit for Pendant Lamp Shade

2019年1月12日damages, lamp shade, LUIS POULSEN, PH-5, Tokyo District Court, trademark infringementAcquired distinctiveness, Device mark, Famous mark, Similarity of mark, Three dimensional markMasaki MIKAMI

On December 27, 2018, the Tokyo District Court sided with Luis Poulsen A/S, a Danish company, in a lawsuit for trademark infringement against R&M Japan Co., Ltd. who imported into Japan and sold lighting apparatus allegedly identical with or...

Lee unsuccessful in removing Leeao from trademark registration

2019年1月5日Article 4(1)(xi), LEE, Leeao, Trademark oppositionArticle 4(1)(xi), Composite mark, Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Similarity of mark, Trademark OppositionMasaki MIKAMI

The Japan Patent Office dismissed a trademark opposition claimed by the second largest manufacturer of jeans in the United States, The H.D. Lee Company, Inc. (LEE) against trademark registration no. 5990967 for the Leeao logo mark in class 25 by...

Is GRAND HOME dissimilar or similar to GRAN HOME?

2018年12月29日Article 4(1)(xi), GRAN HOME, GRAND HOMEArticle 4(1)(xi), Refusal appeal, Similarity of mark, Trademark AppealMasaki MIKAMI

In a recent appeal trial over trademark dispute, the Appeal Board of Japan Patent Office (JPO) overturned the Examiner’s determination and held that a word mark “GRAND HOME” is dissimilar to, and unlikely to cause confusion with a senior...

POLO BCS defeated in trademark battle with POLO RALPH LAUREN

2018年12月23日Article 4(1)(xv), IP High Court, Likelihood of confusion, POLO, Ralph LaurenAbbreviation, Article 4(1)(xv), Division of trademark application, Famous mark, IP High Court, Likelihood of confusion, Refusal appeal, Similarity of markMasaki MIKAMI

In a ruling on the merits of whether or not an applied mark “POLO HOME / BRITISH COUNTRY SPIRIT” is likely to cause confusion with a world-famous trademark “POLO” by the fashion house Ralph Lauren, the Japan IP High Court sided with the...

AI SCAN ROBO

2018年12月16日AI, AI SCAN ROBO, Article 3(1)(vi), inherent distinctivenessArticle 3(1)(vi), Inherent distinctiveness, Trademark AppealMasaki MIKAMI

In a recent administrative decision, the Appeal Board of Japan Patent Office (JPO) allowed registration for a word mark of “AI SCAN ROBO”, finding that the mark could function as a source indicator.
[Appeal case no. 2018-5433, Gazette issue...

SEGWAY unsuccessful in opposing SWAGWAY mark

2018年12月9日Likelihood of confusion, Segway, SWAGWAY, Trademark oppositionArticle 4(1)(vii), Article 4(1)(x), Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Similarity of mark, Trademark Opposition, Violation of public orderMasaki MIKAMI

The Japan Patent Office dismissed a trademark opposition claimed by an American manufacturer of two-wheeled personal transporters, Segway Inc. against trademark registration no. 5910587 for the Swagway mark in class 12 by finding less likelihood...

MARKS IP LAW FIRM

Subscribe and Follow