The Unfair Competition Prevention Law (UCPL) protects famous trademarks regardless of their registration status under Article 2(1)(i) & (ii).
Tokyo District Court awards record damages of JPY200M over a dead copy of bra design
The Tokyo District Court, on September 3, 2021, awarded record damages of 202 million Japanese Yen to Co-medical who brought a lawsuit against VIDAN under the Unfair Competition Prevention Law, accusing the defendant of...
Hermès beat Birkin Bag Imitator for Trademark Infringement
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....
Japan IP High Court Ordered Unofficial Mario Kart To Pay Nintendo Over $450,000
On January 29, 2020, the Japan IP High Court ruled in favor of Nintendo over a case against go-kart operator Mari Mobility (the company formally named Maricar) and ordered damage compensation of 50 million JP.
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JPY 71 Million Damages Award Against Design Copycat of BAO BAO ISSEY MIYAKE
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...
Luis Vuitton victory in trademark battle for remake use
In a trademark battle involving famous Louis Vuitton Monogram for remake use, the Japan IP High Court ruled in favor of Louis Vuitton and ordered appellant to pay 1.7 million JP-Yen for damages on October 23, 2018.
Custom-made...
Fashion design and copycat
On July 30, the Tokyo District Court delivered a ruling in the case of copycat fashion dispute pertinent to the shape of cold shoulder blouse.
[Case no. Heisei 29(Wa)30499]
Cold Shoulder Blouse
The case was brought into the...
Japan IP High Court Ruling – Shape of “Unit Shelf” functions as a source indicator of Ryohin Keikaku
The Japan IP High Court has affirmed an earlier ruling by the Tokyo District Court, and sided with Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd, an operator of the MUJI retail chain, in a lawsuit accusing CAINZ Corporation, the second largest DIY store chain in...