New Trademark Law

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…

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…

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…

Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(4), New Trademark Law, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark, similarity of service, Trademark Examination Guideline 03/24/2024

Can a ‘Letter of Consent’ guarantee successful trademark registration in Japan?

The revised Japan Trademark Law wil…

Article 3(1)(vi), Device mark, Distinctiveness, New Trademark Law, Non-Traditional trademark, Position mark, Trademark Appeal 01/21/2024

Hummel Victory in Appeal to Overcome Rejection against Chevron Position Mark

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) Appea…

New Trademark Law 07/03/2023

Changes in rules and processes to serve JPO documents from July 3, 2023

From July 3, 2023, the JPO document…

Article 4(1)(viii), Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(4), examination, JPO Announcement, Letter of consent, Name of a living individual, New Trademark Law 06/18/2023

Japan: Trademark Law Revision Act promulgated on June 14, 2023

The Japan Trademark Law Revision Ac…

Fee, JPO Announcement, Madrid Protocol, New Trademark Law 05/22/2021

Japan: Trademark Law Revision Act promulgated on May 21, 2021

The Japan Trademark Law Revision Ac…

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)(vi), Article 3(2), Distinctiveness, IP High Court, New Trademark Law, Non-Traditional trademark, Position mark, Trademark Appeal 09/13/2020

Japan IP High Court Ruling on Distinctiveness of Position Mark

On August 27, 2020, the Japan IP Hi…