JPO

Trademark Applications Drop as Pandemic Pushes Japan into Recession

2020年7月4日coronavirus, COVID-19, JAPAN PATENT OFFICE, JPO, new trademark application, pandemicJPO AnnouncementMasaki MIKAMI

Japan's economy has slipped into recession
for the first time since 2015 in the last quarter, putting the nation on course
for its deepest slump as the coronavirus crisis ravages businesses and
consumers. First-quarter...

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...

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...

Fashion Designer in trademark fight over his name

2019年8月31日Article 4(1)(viii), Designer name, IP High Court, JPO, KEN KIKUCHIArticle 4(1)(viii), Composite mark, IP High Court, Refusal appeal, Trademark Examination GuidelineMasaki MIKAMI

On August 7, 2019, the Japan IP High Court ruled to dismiss an appeal by Ken Kikuchi, a Japanese jewelry designer, who contested a decision by the Japan Patent Office (JPO) to deny trademark registration for a composite...

Patagonia Victorious in Trademark Battle

2019年8月3日Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xv), invalidation trial, JAPAN PATENT OFFICE, Japan Trademark Law, JPO, Likelihood of confusion, Patagonia, royalwestArticle 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xv), Composite mark, Device mark, Famous mark, Invalidation trial, Likelihood of confusion, Similarity of goods, Similarity of markMasaki MIKAMI

The Trial Board of Japan Patent Office (JPO) recently upheld an invalidation petition by US outdoor apparel company, Patagonia Inc. against TM Reg. no. 6028801 for the “royalwest” mark in combination with figurative...

JPO Annual Report 2019

2019年7月13日Annual report, FA Pendency, JPO, Madrid Protocol, trademark applicationAnnual reportMasaki MIKAMI

The Japan Patent Office released its 2019 Annual Report (in Japanese only) on July 12, 2019, which contain informative figures and statistics relating to IP applications in Japan and on all other activities of the...

Nintendo loses trademark fight over “Switch” name in Japan

2019年6月30日Advisory Opinion, Article 28, Hantei, JPO, Nintendo, Nintendo Switch, SWITCH, Trademark LawAdvisory Opinion, Article 28, Famous mark, HanteiMasaki MIKAMI

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) rendered advisory opinion in a trademark fight over “Switch” name unfavorable to Japanese video game giant Nintendo. [Case no. 2018-600008, Gazette issue date: May 31, 2019]

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Trademark race for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games – Episode 2

2019年2月2日Article 3(1)(vi), Heart shape, JPO, OLYMPIC, Olympic symbolArticle 3(1)(vi), Device mark, Famous markMasaki MIKAMI

The Appeal Board of Japan Patent Office (JPO) refused Trademark Application No. 2017-11978 for a device mark consisting of five interlaced heart shape logos for goods of clothing and footwear in class 25 because of similarity to Olympic rings...

Is Polaroid Photo Frame trademarked?

2018年8月26日Article 3(1)(vi), Japan Trademark Law, JPO, PolaroidArticle 3(1)(vi), Device mark, Inherent distinctiveness, Refusal appeal, Trademark AppealMasaki MIKAMI

In a recent decision, the Appeal Board of Japan Patent Office (JPO) admitted trademark registration for the Polaroid Photo Frame design mark (see below) in relation to services of photo printing, digital on-demand printing, processing of...

JPO refused to register 3D shape of Mitsubishi Electric’s spiral escalator

2018年6月3日Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(iii), Article 3(2), JPO, Mitsubishi Electric, Secondary meaning, Spiral escalatorAcquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(iii), Article 3(2), Refusal appeal, Three dimensional mark, Trademark AppealMasaki MIKAMI

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....

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