Distinctiveness

Article 3(1)(vi), Device mark, Distinctiveness, Three dimensional mark, Trademark Appeal, Trademark Examination Manual 09/05/2022

Marks IP Wins Trademark Dispute to Register 3D Shape of Hard Rock Guitar Hotel

On August 8, the Appeal Board of th…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(2), Color marks, Distinctiveness, Famous mark, Non-Traditional trademark, Position mark, Trademark Appeal 06/11/2022

JPO Rejected Colormark of Louboutin’s red soles

On June 7, 2022, the Appeal Board o…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(2), Color marks, Distinctiveness, examination, Famous mark 05/14/2022

Update of Colormark in Japan – Who awarded the 9th registration?

On March 25, 2022, the Japan Patent…

Article 46, Distinctiveness, Invalidation, Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark, similarity of service 04/17/2022

Trademark Opposition or Invalidation, Which Is Useful in Japan?

Opposition A trademark opposition i…

Color marks, Distinctiveness, Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Non-Traditional trademark, Position mark, Similarity of mark, Tokyo district court, Unfair Competition Law 03/13/2022

Louboutin Unsuccessful in Litigation over Red Soles

On March 11, 2022, the Tokyo Distri…

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…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(v), Article 3(2), Distinctiveness, Famous mark, Trademark Appeal, Trademark Examination Guideline 11/27/2021

Formula One Successful in Registering “F1”

In a recent decision, the Appeal Bo…

alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(xi), compound mark, Distinctiveness, examination, Similarity of mark, similarity of service, Trademark Appeal 06/13/2021

JPO found Italian word “Panetteria” distinctive in relation to restaurant service

In a recent administrative decision…

Acquired distinctiveness, alphabetical name, Article 3(1)(v), Descriptive mark, Distinctiveness, examination, Trademark Appeal 03/07/2021

“FS12” can’t be registered due to a lack of distinctiveness

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) affir…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(2), damage, Descriptive mark, Distinctiveness, Famous mark, IP High Court, Similarity of mark, Three dimensional mark, Tokyo district court, Trade dress, Unfair Competition Law 12/26/2020

Hermès beat Birkin Bag Imitator for Trademark Infringement

On December 17, 2020, the Japan IP …