Trademark Appeal

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...

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.

Response...

OKLOK vs OKLOCK

2020年4月25日Article 4(1)(vi), Dissimilarity of mark, JAPAN PATENT OFFICE, Japan Trademark Law, OKLOCK, OKLOK, similarity of mark, trademark appeal, trademark applicationArticle 4(1)(xi), Refusal appeal, Similarity of goods, Similarity of mark, Trademark AppealMasaki MIKAMI

In a trademark dispute, similarity between “OKLOK” and “OKLOCK”, the Appeal Board of the Japan Patent Office found both marks dissimilar and reversed examiner’s rejection.[Appeal case no. 2019-16781, Gazette...

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...

Empire Steak House loses to trademark its restaurant name in Japan IP High Court battle

2020年1月12日Article 4(1)(xi), EMPIRE, EMPIRE STEAK HOUSE, IP High Court, JAPAN PATENT OFFICE, Japan Trademark Law, Supreme CourtArticle 4(1)(xi), Composite mark, IP High Court, Madrid Protocol, Refusal appeal, Similarity of mark, Trademark AppealMasaki MIKAMI

On December 26, 2019, the Japan IP High
Court ruled to uphold a rejection by the Japan Patent Office (JPO) to International
Registration no. 1351134 for the mark “EMPIRE STEAK HOUSE” in class 43 due to a
conflict with...

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