Distinctiveness

Accelerated examination, Article 3(1)(iii), Article 3(2), Color marks, Distinctiveness, Famous mark, New Trademark Law, Non-Traditional trademark, Trademark Appeal 10/25/2025

YONEX Scored Win in Registering Color mark

On October 21, 2025, the Japan Pate…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(iii), Article 3(2), Distinctiveness, Famous mark, Three dimensional mark, Trade dress, Trademark Appeal 10/18/2025

JPO Rejected 3D shape of KitKat 2 Finger Mini Chocolate Wafers as Trademark

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) Appea…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(vi), Device mark, Distinctiveness, Madrid Protocol 09/06/2025

JPO Found Tissa Fontaneda’s Bubble Pattern Descriptive of Bags

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) susta…

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

Is “WEBmetaverse” registrable as a trademark?

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) affir…

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…

Accelerated examination, Article 4(1)(xi), composite, Composite mark, compound mark, Distinctiveness, Invalidation, IP High Court, Similarity of mark 12/21/2024

Trademark dispute: UNITED vs UNITED GOLD

In a dispute over the similarity of…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(2), Color marks, Distinctiveness, Famous mark, New Trademark Law, Non-Traditional trademark, Trademark Appeal 11/23/2024

No Green Light to Kawasaki Green Color Mark

On November 15, 2024, Kawasaki Heav…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(2), Device mark, Distinctiveness, Famous mark, Three dimensional mark, Trademark Appeal 11/10/2024

Japan IP High Court gives Green Light to 3D “Godzilla” shape as Trademark

On October 30, 2024, the Japan IP H…