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

alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(xi), Opposition, Similarity of mark, similarity of service 05/31/2025

JPO found “ARIS” dissimilar to “arivis” in trademark opposition

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismi…

Article 4(1)(xi), similarity of goods, Similarity of mark, Trademark Appeal 05/24/2025

Trademark dispute: “VOLKA” vs “VOLGA”

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) overt…

Article 4(1)(xi), similarity of goods, Similarity of mark, Trademark Appeal 05/17/2025

Trademark dispute: “MARZY” vs “by MERZY”

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) affir…

Article 4(1)(xi), Composite mark, Device mark, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark, Trademark Appeal 05/10/2025

Similarity of trademark containing a similar star device

In an appeal trial, the Japan Paten…

alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(vii), Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xv), Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark 05/03/2025

Trademark dispute: MINI vs. DMINI

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismi…

Accelerated examination, Article 4(1)(x), Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), Bad faith, Composite mark, Device mark, Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, Similarity of mark 04/27/2025

Trademark Dispute: Domino’s Pizza vs Dog’s Pizza

In a trademark opposition against T…

alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), Bad faith, Composite mark, Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark 04/19/2025

HERMES Defeated with Trademark Opposition against KIMONO TWILLY

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismi…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(iii), Article 3(2), Color marks, Distinctiveness, New Trademark Law, Trademark Appeal 04/12/2025

JPO Said No to Register Kawasaki Green Color Mark

On March 19, 2025, the Japan Patent…

Article 4(1)(vi), Article 4(1)(x), Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(2), Bad faith, compound mark, Famous mark, Invalidation, IP High Court, Trademark assignment, Violation of public order 04/06/2025

End of the TOKYO 2020 Olympic emblem dispute

On March 12, 2025, the Japan IP Hig…

Accelerated examination, JPO Announcement, JPO Status Report 03/28/2025

JPO Status Report 2025

According to “JPO Status Report 202…