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

Article 4(1)(xi), Composite mark, compound mark, Famous mark, IP High Court, Opposition, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark 03/01/2025

Court Case: VALENTINO GARVANI vs GIANNI VALENTINO

The Japan IP High Court affirmed th…

Article 3(1)(vi), Composite mark, Distinctiveness, Trademark Appeal 02/22/2025

Is “WEBmetaverse” registrable as a trademark?

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) affir…

Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xv), Composite mark, Famous mark, Invalidation, Likelihood of confusion, Similarity of mark 02/15/2025

Trademark dispute: SONY vs SONIMART

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) sided…

alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(xi), Composite mark, compound mark, Similarity of mark, similarity of service, Trademark Appeal 02/08/2025

JPO found “Pitta” dissimilar to “PITTA MASK”

In an administrative decision on Ja…

Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), Bad faith, Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark 02/01/2025

UNIQLO Lost in Trademark Opposition against UNIPRO

UNIQLO lost in its attempt to oppos…

abbreviation, alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xv), compound mark, Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark 01/25/2025

TOMMY HILFIGER vs TOMTOMMY

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) did n…

abbreviation, alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(vii), Article 4(1)(xv), Bad faith, Composite mark, Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark, Violation of public order 01/19/2025

Trademark dispute: MONSTER ENERGY vs POCKET MONSTERS

In a trademark opposition disputed …

Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xv), Famous mark, Invalidation, Likelihood of confusion, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark 01/11/2025

STARBUCKS Unsuccessful Invalidation Action against Trademark “STARBOSS”

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismi…

alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(xi), Composite mark, Distinctiveness, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark, similarity of service, Trademark Appeal 01/04/2025

JPO Decision: Trademark “Dear U plus” dissimilar to “dear U”

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) overt…

Color marks, Composite mark, compound mark, Design invalidation, Device mark, Distinctiveness, Famous mark, Invalidation, IP High Court, Letter of consent, Likelihood of confusion, Madrid Protocol, New Trademark Law, Opposition, Similarity of mark, Trade dress, Trademark Appeal 12/29/2024

Top 10 Trademark News in Japan, 2024

As the year 2024 comes to an end, i…