Trademark Appeal

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(2), Color marks, Distinctiveness, Famous mark, IP High Court, Position mark, Trademark Appeal 02/18/2023

Tragic End of Trademark Challenge for Louboutin

In a series of Louboutin’s legal ch…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(2), Article 4(1)(xvi), Device mark, Famous mark, Three dimensional mark, Trademark Appeal 02/12/2023

JPO Decision: the Volkswagen Beetle 3D shape Lacks Distinctiveness

The JPO Appeal Board affirmed the e…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(2), Device mark, Famous mark, Figurative mark, IP High Court, Three dimensional mark, Trademark Appeal 02/05/2023

IP High Court Rules Lego 3D Figure Mark Unregistrable

The Japan IP High Court dismissed a…

alphabetical name, Article 3(1)(3), Composite mark, Descriptive mark, Distinctiveness, Katakana, Trademark Appeal 12/25/2022

TM Race: Which is Registrable, “Virtual Marathon” or “Virtual Tokyo Marathon”?

In a recent administrative decision…

Article 4(1)(xi), Composite mark, Distinctiveness, Famous mark, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark, Trademark Appeal 09/24/2022

JPO rejected “BAMBI MAMA&BABY” due to a conflict with “BAMBI”

In a trademark appeal disputing the…

alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(xi), similarity of goods, Similarity of mark, Trademark Appeal 09/10/2022

Trademark dispute: LAPPI vs LAPPY

In a recent appeal decision, the Ja…

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…

abbreviation, alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(xv), Composite mark, compound mark, Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Similarity of mark, similarity of service, Trademark Appeal 08/06/2022

No confusion between “InstaShop” and “Instagram”

On July 27, 2022, the Appeal Board …

Article 4(1)(xi), Composite mark, compound mark, Device mark, Similarity of mark, similarity of service, Trademark Appeal 07/02/2022

Trademark dispute: RIVER vs river

In a recent decision, the JPO Appea…

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…