JAPAN TRADEMARK REVIEW – Latest news & updates for trademarks in Japan

abbreviation, Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xv), composite, Composite mark, Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark, Trademark Appeal 08/09/2020

POLO RALPH LAUREN vs. US POLO ASSN

The Appeal Board of the Japan Paten…

Article 4(1)(vii), Article 4(1)(x), Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), Famous mark, Generic term, Invalidation, Likelihood of confusion, Similarity of mark 08/02/2020

Is “You Tuber” a source indicator of Google?

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) recen…

alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(xi), Generic term, IP High Court, Similarity of mark, similarity of service 07/26/2020

Is “MAHARAJA” a generic term in relation to Indian restaurants?

On July 8, 2020, the Japan IP High …

Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark 07/19/2020

ZARA Fails in Japanese Trademark Opposition Against “ZORA”

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismi…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(2), Color marks, Distinctiveness, IP High Court, New Trademark Law, Non-Traditional trademark, Trademark Appeal 07/12/2020

Japan IP High Court Refuses Trademark Protection for Orange Color Mark

On 23 June 2020, the Japan IP High …

JPO Announcement 07/04/2020

Trademark Applications Drop as Pandemic Pushes Japan into Recession

Japan’s economy has slipped into re…

abbreviation, Article 3(1)(vi), composite, Composite mark, Descriptive mark, Device mark, Distinctiveness, Figurative mark, IP High Court, Trademark Appeal 06/28/2020

Japan IP High Court ruling: “I♡JAPAN” lacks distinctiveness as a trademark

On June 17, 2020, the Japan IP High…

abbreviation, Article 4(1)(xi), composite, Composite mark, compound mark, Descriptive mark, Distinctiveness, IP High Court, Similarity of mark, Trademark Appeal 06/20/2020

Japan IP High Court sided with Apple Inc. in “CORE ML” trademark dispute

On May 20, 2020, the Japan IP High …

Acquired distinctiveness, alphabetical name, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(2), Article 4(1)(xvi), Descriptive mark, Distinctiveness, Famous mark, Geographical indication, Trademark Appeal 06/13/2020

Sweet, but long road to register “Ghana” on chocolates

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) allow…

Article 4(1)(xi), examination, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark, Trademark Appeal 06/06/2020

LEPUS vs. LEPS

In an appeal decision, the Japan Pa…