Distinctiveness

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 …

abbreviation, Article 3(1)(vi), composite, Composite mark, Descriptive mark, Device mark, Distinctiveness, Figurative mark, IP High Court, Trademark Appeal 06/28/2020

Japan IP High Court ruling: “I♡JAPAN” lacks distinctiveness as a trademark

On June 17, 2020, the Japan IP High…

abbreviation, Article 4(1)(xi), composite, Composite mark, compound mark, Descriptive mark, Distinctiveness, IP High Court, Similarity of mark, Trademark Appeal 06/20/2020

Japan IP High Court sided with Apple Inc. in “CORE ML” trademark dispute

On May 20, 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 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xv), compound mark, Distinctiveness, Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark 05/03/2020

HERMES scores victory in trademark battle over KELLY

In a trademark opposition at the Ja…

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…

Article 3(1)(3), Distinctiveness, examination, Geographical indication, Trademark Examination Guideline 02/15/2020

JPO registers PUERTA DEL SOL as trademark

In a recent appeal decision, the Ja…

Accelerated examination, Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(2), Distinctiveness, Three dimensional mark 12/15/2019

Acquired distinctiveness for 3D shape of OMRON digital thermometer

The Japan Patent Office recently ad…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(v), Article 3(2), Distinctiveness, Famous mark, Madrid Protocol 10/06/2019

Porsche wins trademark protection for “911”

Porsche, a German sports car maker,…

Article 4(1)(xi), Composite mark, Device mark, Distinctiveness, IP High Court, Similarity of mark 09/22/2019

Trademark Dispute Over Cigarette Brand “SIGNATURE”

In a decision dated September 12, 2…