Article 3(1)(3)

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(2), Device mark, Distinctiveness, Famous mark, Figurative mark, Three dimensional mark, Trademark Appeal 02/13/2022

JPO Found Lego 3D Figure Mark Lack Distinctiveness

In a decision to the appeal against…

Article 3(1)(3), Article 4(1)(xvi), Descriptive mark, Division of trademark application, examination, Famous mark, Geographical indication, Katakana, Trademark Appeal 01/15/2022

Patagonia Inc Failed in Registering “PATAGONIA”

On December 15, 2021, the Japan Pat…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(1)(vi), Article 3(2), Color marks, Famous mark, Non-Traditional trademark, Trademark Appeal 12/04/2021

Hermes Challenge to Register Packaging Colors

HERMES INTERNATIONAL, a French luxu…

alphabetical name, Article 3(1)(3), Article 4(1)(xvi), Distinctiveness, Madrid Protocol, Trademark Appeal 12/06/2020

El Clasico Scores a Goal in Trademark Race

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) overt…

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…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(2), Color marks, Distinctiveness, IP High Court, New Trademark Law, Non-Traditional trademark, Trademark Appeal 07/12/2020

Japan IP High Court Refuses Trademark Protection for Orange Color Mark

On 23 June 2020, the Japan IP High …

Acquired distinctiveness, alphabetical name, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(2), Article 4(1)(xvi), Descriptive mark, Distinctiveness, Famous mark, Geographical indication, Trademark Appeal 06/13/2020

Sweet, but long road to register “Ghana” on chocolates

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) allow…

Article 3(1)(3), Three dimensional mark, Trademark Examination Guideline 04/19/2020

JPO protects 3D shape of cherry design bottle for soy sauce dispenser

In a recent administrative decision…

alphabetical name, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(1)(vi), Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xv), Article 4(1)(xvi), Descriptive mark, Famous mark, Invalidation, Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, Similarity of mark 03/15/2020

SWATCH Defeated in SWATCH vs iWATCH Trademark Dispute

The Trial Board of Japan Patent Off…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(3), Distinctiveness, IP High Court, New Trademark Law, Non-Traditional trademark, Position mark 02/29/2020

First ruling by IP High Court on New Type of Trademark in Japan

On February 14 2020, the Japan IP H…