Japan Patent Office

Accelerated examination, Annual report, fast track examination, JPO Announcement, JPO Status Report, Trademark Examination Guideline, Trademark Examination Manual 11/22/2020

Tips to Pass the JPO Trademark Registration Exam in 2 months

“JPO Status Report 2020” reveals mo…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(2), Color marks, JPO Announcement, New Trademark Law, Non-Traditional trademark, Trademark Appeal, Trademark Examination Guideline 11/15/2020

Less than 1.5% Success Rate for Getting Color Mark Registration in Japan

Japan opened the gate to Non-Tradit…

alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), Composite mark, Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, Similarity of mark, similarity of service 11/08/2020

Google’s Trademark Battle over Street View

The Opposition Board of the Japan P…

Article 4(1)(viii), Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), Famous mark, Invalidation, Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark 10/25/2020

LEGO Triumphs In ‘CATTYLEGO’ Trademark Battle at JPO

LEGO eventually scored a win over P…

Article 4(1)(vii), Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), composite, Composite mark, Device mark, Famous mark, Figurative mark, Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, Similarity of mark, Violation of public order 10/18/2020

Bentley Victorious in Trademark Opposition over Winged B logo

The Opposition Board of the Japan P…

abbreviation, alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(xi), composite, Composite mark, Monogram, Similarity of mark, Trademark Appeal 10/11/2020

PGA

In a recent administrative decision…

abbreviation, Article 4(1)(vii), Article 4(1)(x), Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), Cancellation trial, Composite mark, Famous mark, Invalidation, Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, Similarity of mark 10/04/2020

Coffee Trademark Battle

Colombian Coffee Federation (FNC) f…

Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xv), Composite mark, compound mark, Famous mark, Invalidation, IP High Court, Likelihood of confusion, Similarity of mark 09/27/2020

Starbucks defeated in trademark battle to defend the logo

On September 16, 2020, the Japan IP…

Article 4(1)(xv), Famous mark, Invalidation, Likelihood of confusion, Similarity of mark 09/20/2020

ZARA successful in invalidating the Zarbleu mark

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) sided…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(vi), Article 3(2), Distinctiveness, IP High Court, New Trademark Law, Non-Traditional trademark, Position mark, Trademark Appeal 09/13/2020

Japan IP High Court Ruling on Distinctiveness of Position Mark

On August 27, 2020, the Japan IP Hi…