Philippe Starck Lost Trademark Dispute over Starck
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition claimed by Philippe Starck, a French…
Failed trademark opposition by Volkswagen: POLO vs. QOLO
On December 28, 2022, the JPO Opposition Board dismissed the opposition claimed by German …
Louboutin 2nd Defeat in Litigation over Red Soles
By order of December 26, 2022, the IP High Court ruled to dismiss an appeal taken by Loubo…
“OLYMPIAD vs OLYMBEER” trademark battle
The Japan IP High Court reversed a decision of the JPO that canceled the OLYMBEER mark due…
IP High Court Rules Lego 3D Figure Mark Unregistrable
The Japan IP High Court dismissed an appeal brought by Lego Juris A/S and affirmed the Jap…
JPO Decision: the Volkswagen Beetle 3D shape Lacks Distinctiveness
The JPO Appeal Board affirmed the examiner’s rejection and decided to refuse IR no. 137917…
Tragic End of Trademark Challenge for Louboutin
In a series of Louboutin’s legal challenge to claim exclusive right over red soles, the Ja…
Letter of Protest protects PUMA from Free-rider
The JPO examiner raised her objection on the ground that TM App no. 2022-76159 for the sty…
Slim Chickens Fails to Secure Trademark in Japan
The JPO dismissed an opposition claimed by Slim Chickens Holdings LLC, a US fast-casual re…
Johnson’s baby vs. JOHANSON bebis
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) did not side with Johnson & Johnson in trademark opposit…
Harvey Ball wins trademark opposition over the double-eyed smiley face
In a recent administrative decision, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) sided with Harvey Ball …
Hermes Wins Birkin & Kelly Bag’s 3D Trademark Infringement Lawsuit
On March 9, 2023, the Tokyo District Court awarded HERMES INTERNATIONAL JPY5,640,112 for i…
VISA lost in a bid to oppose AIR VISA
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition claimed by Visa International Servic…
Dolce & Gabbana Unsuccessful in Blocking Trademark “Ms. dolce”
The Japan Patent Office dismissed a trademark opposition claimed by the Italian luxury fir…
Trademark case: Wilson vs Werwilson
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition filed by Wilson Sporting Goods Compa…
L’Oréal loses trademark fight against “NOREAL”
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition filed by L’Oréal against TM Reg no. …
FURLA vs FURNA
Italian heritage label Furla lost a trademark opposition in Japan against TM Reg no. 65011…
JPO Appeal Board Rejects Hermes Packaging Colors
On April 25, 2023, the JPO Appeal Board dismissed an appeal filed by HERMES INTERNATIONAL,…
Jimmy Choo Unsuccessful in Trademark Opposition against “CHUU”
On April 10, 2023, the JPO dismissed a trademark opposition against TM Reg no. 6523561 for…
Trademark dispute: iTunes vs HiTune
On May 1, 2023, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition filed by Apple Inc. …
Unsuccessful Trademark Opposition over MONCLER Logo Outline
On May 5, 2023, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition against the composit…
Champion loses trademark opposition over “C” logo
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition filed by HBI Branded Apparel Enterpr…
HERMES Unsuccessful in Trademark Opposition against HERDES
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) did not side with Hermes International in opposition against…
Japan: Trademark Law Revision Act promulgated on June 14, 2023
The Japan Trademark Law Revision Act of 2023 (Act No. 51) passed Congress on June 7 and wa…
Audemars Piguet Unsuccessful Challenge of TM Registration for Iconic Shape of “ROYAL OAK” Timepiece
On June 8, 2023, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an appeal filed by Audemars Pigue…
Changes in rules and processes to serve JPO documents from July 3, 2023
From July 3, 2023, the JPO documents will be served to foreign registrants by publication …
VOLVO Fails Trademark Opposition against VOLVOX
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed a trademark opposition filed by Volvo Trademark Ho…
CASIO Successful in Registering 3D Shape of “G-SHOCK” Watch
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) disaffirmed the examiner’s rejection and granted protection …
Tommy Hilfiger Opposes “H by FIGER SPORTS” Trademark Registration
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) did not side with Tommy Hilfiger and found TM Reg no. 649483…
Chrysler Wins Japan Trademark Invalidation Trial over “Jeeper”
In a recent invalidation decision by the Japan Patent Office (JPO), Chrysler could finally…
JPO Annual Report 2023
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) released its 2023 Annual Report (in Japanese only) on July 2…
HERMES Victory in trademark dispute against HAIRMES
On July 26, 2023, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) sided with Hermes International in an inva…
Shangri-La Unsuccessful in Trademark Opposition Over “Shangri-La Golf”
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition claimed by Shangri-La Hotels against…
Japan IP High Court Decision to A Position Mark of Dr. Martens’ Yellow Welt Stitch
On August 10, 2023, the Japan IP Hight Court ruled to dismiss an appeal by Airwair Interna…
Trademark Dispute: Louis Vuitton vs Rui vuit
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) didn’t side with LOUIS VUITTON MALLETIER in an opposition ag…
McDonald Unsuccessful in Trademark Opposition against “mac”
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) did not side with McDonald in opposition against Japanese TM…
ZARA vs AZRA
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition filed by Industria de Diseño Textil,…
JPO Declared Cancellation of Trademark “BORDEAUX WAVE” on Cosmetics
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) decided to cancel TM Reg no. 6576001 for word mark “BORDEAUX…
Failed Trademark Opposition over VW TYPE-2
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) did not side with Volkswagen AG in an opposition against TM …
Trademark Opposition: JEEP vs JEIP321
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition filed by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (…
Trademark Opposition Case: “DROP” vs “THE DROP”
In a trademark opposition disputing similarity between “DROP” and “THE DROP”, the Japan Pa…
Japan IP High Court ruled “athlete Chiffon” descriptive in relation to hotel and restaurant services.
On October 12, 2023, the Japan IP High Court affirmed the JPO refusal decision to TM App n…
ANYTIME FITNESS Unsuccessful Opposition against “anytime 24” mark in relation to fitness service
On October 17, 2023, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition claimed by Anyt…
Trademark dispute: HITACHI vs hitasi
On October 16, 2023, the Japan Patent Office (JPO)dismissed an opposition claimed by Hitac…
JPO rejection to Kubota Tractors’ Color Marks
On October 31, 2023, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) rejected color marks for use on farm tr…
JPO decided trademark “MONO” dissimilar to “MONO+”
In a trademark appeal disputing similarity between “MONO” and “MONO+”, the Appeal Board of…
JPO decision to trademark dissimilarity, Unbelievable or Believable?
On November 9, 2023, the JPO Appeal Board reversed the examiner’s rejection to TM Applicat…
Is Mr. Benjamin Brown around?
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) reversed the examiner’s rejection to TM App no. 2022-13396 f…
Pierre Herme Unsuccessful in Trademark Opposition against “House of Herme”
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed trademark opposition filed by Group Pierre Herme a…
French fashion magazine “ELLE” Lost in trademark opposition against “elLle HOTEL”
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed an opposition filed by HACHETTE FILIPACCHI PRESSE,…
CHANEL defeated in Trademark Opposition against “COCOCHI”
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) handed a loss to Chanel SARL in trademark opposition against…
Unsuccessful trademark opposition over LXR Hotels & Resorts by Hilton
In a bid to oppose TM Reg nos. 6668894 “LX RESORT” and 6668893 “LX HOTEL”, the Japan Paten…