examination

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, examination, Famous mark 05/14/2022

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

On March 25, 2022, the Japan Patent…

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…

Annual report, examination, JPO Announcement, Madrid Protocol, Trademark ownership 07/18/2021

JPO Annual Report 2021

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) relea…

Article 4(1)(vii), examination, Famous mark, Katakana, Trademark Appeal, Trademark Examination Guideline, Trademark Examination Manual, Violation of public order 06/27/2021

“MONA LISA” May Smile At You

In a recent decision, the Japan Pat…

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…

Accelerated examination, examination, fast track examination, JPO Announcement, JPO Status Report 04/11/2021

JPO Status Report 2021 – The impact of Covid-19 on Japan trademarks

Unquestionably, 2020 was remarkably…

Article 4(1)(xi), composite, Composite mark, examination, Famous mark, Generic term, Katakana, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark, Trademark Appeal 03/21/2021

JPO rejects “AIR NECKTIE” due to similarity to NIKE “AIR”

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismi…

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…

alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(xi), composite, Composite mark, Device mark, examination, Famous mark, Figurative mark, Madrid Protocol, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark, Trademark Appeal 01/03/2021

Mercedes-Benz StarParts vs Star-Parts

In an administrative decision, the …