Letter of Consent in Japanese Trademark Practice
When trademark applicants receive a refusal of their trademark applications due to a confl…
DIOR Failed to Cancel Trademark “DIORLV”
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) did not side with Christian Dior Couture in a trademark oppo…
Samsung Failed in TM Opposition against “Funky Galaxy”
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition filed by Samsung, the world’s larges…
TM Opposition: Claude Monet vs Monet Design
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) sided with ACADEMIE DES BEAUX-ARTS, an owner of Musée Marmot…
Hermes Challenge to Register Packaging Colors
HERMES INTERNATIONAL, a French luxury fashion house, is in a legal battle to register its …
Formula One Successful in Registering “F1”
In a recent decision, the Appeal Board of Japan Patent Office (JPO) overturned the examine…
Is the Academy Award-winning film “La La Land” a famous trademark?
In an appeal decision, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) overturned the examiner’s rejection a…
Failed trademark opposition by Disney over a 3-circle silhouette
In a recent decision, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition filed by Disne…
Huda Kattan failed to take back trademark HUDABEAUTY
In a trademark opposition against TM Reg no. 6204338 for the stylized “HUDABEAUTY” mark in…
Famous mark Protection under Unfair Competition Prevention Law
The Unfair Competition Prevention Law (UCPL) protects famous trademarks regardless of thei…
Famous mark Protection under Trademark Law
Japan is a rigid “first-to-file” jurisdiction, meaning that it is necessary to register a …
Failed Opposition by Longines over Winged Hourglass logo mark
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed a trademark opposition claimed by Swiss luxury wat…
LV Damier pattern is unenforceable TM right against traditional Japanese checkered pattern
In an advisory opinion on trademark dispute over world-famous “Damier’s pattern”, the Japa…
Japan: Increase in Trademark Fees, Effective April 1, 2022
On September 14, 2021, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) announced an increase in trademark re…
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 Japa…
Isn’t it MIRACLE?
In recent administrative decision, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) decided TM Reg no. 625334…
HUGO BOSS Unsuccessful in Blocking “BOSS”
German luxury fashion house Hugo Boss failed in their attempt to block Japanese TM Reg no….
BEYOND MEAT defeats “Beyond Meat Burger”
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) sided with Beyond Meat Inc. and canceled TM Reg no. 6197193 …
No confusion between WeWork and iWork
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed a trademark opposition claimed by WeWork Companies…
Dot Makes Wordmark Dissimilar
In a trademark dispute pertinent to the similarity between “.NEXT” and “NEXT”, the Japan …
JPO found likelihood of confusion between SONY and SONICODE
The Japan Patent Office sided with Sony Corporation and declared invalidation of TM Regist…
Dolce & Gabbana failed in a trademark opposition to block DolceSport
The Japan Patent Office dismissed a trademark opposition claimed by the Italian luxury fir…
To whom does “Mary Poppins” return?
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an invalidation petition by Disney Enterprises, In…
Trademark Dispute over “RED HOT”
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed trademark opposition against wordmark “REDHOT” wri…
JPO Annual Report 2021
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) released its 2021 Annual Report (in Japanese only) on July 1…
Hummel scores win in a trademark dispute over Chevron
Hummel gained a victory in a trademark opposition against Japanese TM registration no. 619…
Failed Trademark Opposition by Ferrari over Prancing Horse Logo
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed a trademark opposition claimed by the Italian luxu…
“MONA LISA” May Smile At You
In a recent decision, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) disaffirmed the examiner’s refusal and…
Coronavirus Force Japan to Eliminate Signature on POA
Both Hanko seals and paper documents have long been regarded as important parts of Japan’s…
JPO found Italian word “Panetteria” distinctive in relation to restaurant service
In a recent administrative decision, the Appeal Board of the Japan Patent Office (JPO) dis…
Which to win, first to file or first to trademark?
A recent JPO decision over trademark opposition for “Le Tan” will serve as a cautionary me…
Glenfiddich Wins Trademark Dispute Over Deer Design
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) sided with Glenfiddich, the world’s most awarded Singl…
Japan: Trademark Law Revision Act promulgated on May 21, 2021
The Japan Trademark Law Revision Act of 2021 (Act No. 42) passing congress on May 14, 2021…
Trademark Similarity: APLAY vs applay
In a trademark dispute pertinent to the similarity between “APLAY” and “applay”, the Appea…
Coronavirus vs the Tokyo Olympic Games
With fewer than 80 days to go until the Tokyo Olympics, Japan just extended a state of eme…
IP High Court affirmed TM infringement in favor of Wenger over cross design
On April 21, 2021, the Japan IP High Court affirmed the Tokyo District Court’s decision in…
AlphaGo Unsuccessful in Defeating AlphaMini
“AlphaGo” AI system, developed by Google-owned artificial intelligence company DeepMind, h…
Trademark dispute over Armani’s “Eagle” logo
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) rejected Armani’s opposition against Japanese TM Reg no. 621…
JPO Status Report 2021 – The impact of Covid-19 on Japan trademarks
Unquestionably, 2020 was remarkably a tough and soul-destroying year for businesses around…
COCO vs COCOMIST – Decision of the Opposition Board of the Japan Patent Office
Chanel handed a loss in its attempt to block Japanese trademark registration no. 6202587 f…
Montblanc Unsuccessful in Trademark Opposition
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed a trademark opposition claimed by Montblanc-Simplo…
JPO rejects “AIR NECKTIE” due to similarity to NIKE “AIR”
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an appeal filed by a Japanese individual who sough…
“MACSELL” for use on PC value estimation service is unlikely to cause confusion with Apple “Mac”
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition claimed by Apple Inc. against tradem…
“FS12” can’t be registered due to a lack of distinctiveness
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) affirmed the examiner’s refusal and decided to reject a word…
Transferring Trademark Ownership in Japan
Trademark owners can freely sell their trademark or transfer it without any compensation. …
Like a Jaguar, but not JAGUAR
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition filed by Jaguar Land Rover Ltd. agai…
Ariana Grande Loses Trademark Opposition at Japan Patent Office
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition filed by GrandAri Inc., the owner of…
“COSTA COFFEE” vs “Caffè la Costa”
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed a trademark opposition claimed by Costa Limited, o…
Chanel isn’t Gonna Getcha
Chanel lost in its attempt to block Japanese Trademark Registration No. 6160592 for a comp…
SMART vs SMART TYRE
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition against trademark registration no. 6…
Japan IP High Court ruled “AZURE” is unregistrable due to “AZULE”
On December 23, 2020, the Japan IP High Court affirmed a decision of the Japan Patent Offi…
The University of Oxford Failed in Opposition Against “OXFORD” mark
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition filed by Oxford Limited against trad…
Mercedes-Benz StarParts vs Star-Parts
In an administrative decision, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) held the “Mercedes-Benz Star …