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

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(2), Device mark, Famous mark, Figurative mark, IP High Court, Three dimensional mark, Trademark Appeal 02/05/2023

IP High Court Rules Lego 3D Figure Mark Unregistrable

The Japan IP High Court dismissed a…

Article 4(1)(vi), Famous mark, IP High Court, Opposition, Similarity of mark, Trademark Examination Guideline 01/29/2023

“OLYMPIAD vs OLYMBEER” trademark battle

The Japan IP High Court reversed a …

Acquired distinctiveness, Color marks, Famous mark, IP High Court, Likelihood of confusion, Position mark, Tokyo district court, Unfair Competition Law 01/22/2023

Louboutin 2nd Defeat in Litigation over Red Soles

By order of December 26, 2022, the …

Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xv), Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark, similarity of service 01/15/2023

Failed trademark opposition by Volkswagen: POLO vs. QOLO

On December 28, 2022, the JPO Oppos…

alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), Famous mark, Name of a living individual, Opposition, Similarity of mark, similarity of service 01/09/2023

Philippe Starck Lost Trademark Dispute over Starck

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismi…

alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(xi), Invalidation, Similarity of mark, similarity of service 12/31/2022

HYATT lost a trademark dispute in Japan: GRAND CLUB vs GRAN CLUB

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) did n…

alphabetical name, Article 3(1)(3), Composite mark, Descriptive mark, Distinctiveness, Katakana, Trademark Appeal 12/25/2022

TM Race: Which is Registrable, “Virtual Marathon” or “Virtual Tokyo Marathon”?

In a recent administrative decision…

alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(xi), Composite mark, Invalidation, Similarity of mark, similarity of service 12/18/2022

Trademark dispute: “Swan Angel” vs “ANGEL SWAN”

In a recent decision, the Japan Pat…

alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(vii), Bad faith, Famous mark, Invalidation, Similarity of mark, Violation of public order 12/10/2022

BOND GIRL Score Win in Trademark Dispute

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) decla…

Article 4(1)(vii), Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xix), Opposition, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark, Violation of public order 12/03/2022

Failed Opposition by Monster Energy over PREDATOR mark

In a trademark opposition claimed b…