Inherent 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,...

El Clasico Scores a Goal in Trademark Race

2020年12月6日Article 3(1)(iii), Article 4(1)(xvi), El Clasico, FC Barcelona, JAPAN PATENT OFFICE, Japan Trademark Law, lack of distinctiveness, LaLiga, Real Madrid, trademark appealArticle 3(1)(iii), Article 4(1)(xvi), Generic term, Inherent distinctiveness, Madrid Protocol, Refusal appealMasaki MIKAMI

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) overturned the examiner’s refusal and decided to register the “El Clasico” mark in connection with sporting activities, production of sports events, sports information services, and...

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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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 Appeal1 CommentMasaki 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...

JPO protects 3D shape of cherry design bottle for soy sauce dispenser

2020年4月18日3D mark, Article 3(1)(iii), dispenser, inherent distinctiveness, JAPAN PATENT OFFICE, Japan Trademark Law, RISU, Secondary meaning, Soy sauce, three dimensional mark, trademark appealArticle 3(1)(iii), Inherent distinctiveness, Three dimensional mark, Trade dress, Trademark AppealMasaki MIKAMI

In a recent administrative decision, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) found 3D shape of cherry design bottle is inherently distinctive in relation to soy sauce dispensers in class 21 even without secondary meaning.[Appeal...

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...

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