Acquired distinctiveness

“FS12” can’t be registered due to a lack of distinctiveness

2021年3月7日Article 3(1)(v), FS12, inherent distinctiveness, JAPAN PATENT OFFICE, Japan Trademark Law, lack of distinctiveness, trademark appeal, trademark application, very simple and common markAcquired distinctiveness, Alphabetical word, Article 3(1)(v), Inherent distinctiveness, Refusal appeal, Trademark Appeal, Trademark Examination GuidelineMasaki MIKAMI

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) affirmed the examiner’s refusal and decided to reject a wordmark “FS12” due to a lack of inherent distinctiveness.[Appeal case no. 2019-650019, Gazette issued date: January 29,...

Hermès beat Birkin Bag Imitator for Trademark Infringement

2020年12月26日Birkin, damages, Hermes, IP High Court, passing-off, Tokyo District Court, Trade dress, trademark infringement, Unfair Competition Prevention ActAcquired distinctiveness, Article 3(2), Famous mark, IP High Court, Similarity of mark, Three dimensional mark, Tokyo District Court, Trade dress, trademark infringement, Unfair Competition Prevention Act1 CommentMasaki MIKAMI

On December 17, 2020, the Japan IP High Court upheld awards for JPY2,900,000 for damages suffered by Hermès in relation to a trademark infringement and passing-off case regarding the Birkin Bag imitations.[Court case no....

Less than 1.5% Success Rate for Getting Color Mark Registration in Japan

2020年11月15日Christian Louboutin, colormark, Hermes, JAPAN PATENT OFFICE, Japan Trademark Law, non-traditional trademark, Red BullAcquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(iii), Article 3(2), Colormark, Inherent distinctiveness, New Trademark Law, New type of trademark, Trademark AppealMasaki MIKAMI

Japan opened the gate to Non-Traditional trademark, namely, color, sound, position, motion, hologram, in April 2015. It seems true that, beyond expectation, JPO has a significantly high hurdle to clear.

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Japan IP High Court Ruling on Distinctiveness of Position Mark

2020年9月12日Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(vi), Article 3(2), Cutting Comb, inherent distinctiveness, IP High Court, JAPAN PATENT OFFICE, Japan Trademark Law, Position mark, Secondary meaning, YS ParkAcquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(vi), Article 3(2), Inherent distinctiveness, IP High Court, New Trademark Law, New type of trademark, Position mark, Trademark AppealMasaki MIKAMI

On August 27, 2020, the Japan IP High Court ruled to affirm the Japan Patent Office (JPO) decision and rejected TM application no. 2016-34650 for a position mark consisting of fourteen open ellipses built-in grip section...

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 Appeal1 CommentMasaki 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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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...

First ruling by IP High Court on New Type of Trademark in Japan

2020年2月29日Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(iii), inherent distinctiveness, IP High Court, JAPAN PATENT OFFICE, Japan Trademark Law, New type of trademark, Position mark, Rainbow, TOYOTOMIAcquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(iii), Inherent distinctiveness, IP High Court, New Trademark Law, New type of trademark, Position mark, Trademark AppealMasaki MIKAMI

On February 14 2020, the Japan IP High Court ruled to uphold the Japan Patent Office (JPO) decision and rejected TM application no. 2016-009831 for a 3D position mark consisting of three virtual images of oil stove flame...