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

alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xv), Composite mark, Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark 03/12/2023

Johnson’s baby vs. JOHANSON bebis

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) did n…

alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, Similarity of mark, similarity of service 03/04/2023

Slim Chickens Fails to Secure Trademark in Japan

The JPO dismissed an opposition cla…

Article 4(1)(vii), Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), Bad faith, examination, Famous mark, Letter of Protest, Likelihood of confusion, Similarity of mark 02/25/2023

Letter of Protest protects PUMA from Free-rider

The JPO examiner raised her objecti…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(2), Color marks, Distinctiveness, Famous mark, IP High Court, Position mark, Trademark Appeal 02/18/2023

Tragic End of Trademark Challenge for Louboutin

In a series of Louboutin’s legal ch…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(2), Article 4(1)(xvi), Device mark, Famous mark, Three dimensional mark, Trademark Appeal 02/12/2023

JPO Decision: the Volkswagen Beetle 3D shape Lacks Distinctiveness

The JPO Appeal Board affirmed the e…

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…