In a civil legal battle involving design copycat of luxurious “BAO BAO” bags designed by ISSEY MIYAKE, a Japanese fashion designer, the Tokyo District Court sided with ISSEY MIYAKE and found infringement under the...
The Japan IP High Court Finds “EQ” Entitled to Trademark Registration Belonging to Mercedes Benz
On July 3, 2019, the Japan IP High Court reversed a decision of the Japan Patent Office (JPO) finding that the company Daimler AG was entitled to registration of “EQ” for Motor vehicles in class 12, even though the...
Trademark registration for Tasaki’s Akoya pearls ring
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...
LUIS POULSEN Victory over trademark infringement lawsuit for Pendant Lamp Shade
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...
IP High Court denied registering 3D Shape of Nursing Care Bed
The Japan IP High Court, in its ruling on November 29, 2018, did not side with Paramount Bed Co., Ltd., a Japanese manufacturer and distributor of medical and nursing care product, who filed an appeal against refusal decision by JPO to TM...
Trademark Dispute over Pendant Lamp Shade
In a decision to the invalidation trial claimed by LUIS POULSEN A/S, a Danish company, the Trial Board of Japan Patent Office (JPO) upheld the petition and invalidated TM registration no. 5643726 for a combination mark containing the pendant lamp...
JPO refused to register 3D shape of Mitsubishi Electric’s spiral escalator
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....
Trademark Opposition: “HP” versus “HP MAKER”
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...
Trademark registration for Kikkoman’s Soy sauce 3D Bottle
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...
It is just a 3D shape of electronic baccarat shoe, or trademark?
In a lawsuit disputing adequacy of decision by the JPO Appeal Board (Appeal case no. 2015-907) to refuse the applied 3D mark (TM2014-5943, class 28), consisting of a three-dimensional shape of electronic baccarat shoe with the program enabling to...