Trademark Examination Guideline

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(2), Device mark, Distinctiveness, Famous mark, Three dimensional mark, Trademark Appeal, Trademark Examination Guideline 05/26/2024

P&G Unsuccessful attempt to register 3D shape of SK-II bottle

In an attempt to register TM App no…

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 4(1)(viii), Letter of consent, Name of a living individual, Trademark Appeal, Trademark Examination Guideline 12/03/2023

Is Mr. Benjamin Brown around?

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) rever…

Article 4(1)(vii), Composite mark, Famous mark, Geographical indication, Opposition, Trademark Examination Guideline, Violation of public order 09/23/2023

JPO Declared Cancellation of Trademark “BORDEAUX WAVE” on Cosmetics

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) decid…

Article 4(1)(vi), Famous mark, IP High Court, Opposition, Similarity of mark, Trademark Examination Guideline 01/29/2023

“OLYMPIAD vs OLYMBEER” trademark battle

The Japan IP High Court reversed a …

alphabetical name, Article 50, Cancellation trial, IP High Court, Non-use cancellation, Trademark Examination Guideline, Trademark Examination Manual 04/10/2022

Japan IP High Court Ruling: “Designed, Quality-controlled in France” is not equivalent to “Made in France”

On March 22, 2022, in an appeal aga…

Article 4(1)(xi), similarity of goods, Similarity of mark, similarity of service, Trademark assignment, Trademark Examination Guideline 12/31/2021

Letter of Consent in Japanese Trademark Practice

When trademark applicants receive a…

Article 4(1)(vii), Composite mark, Famous mark, Name of a living individual, Opposition, Trademark Examination Guideline, Violation of public order 12/12/2021

TM Opposition: Claude Monet vs Monet Design

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) sided…

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…

Advisory Opinion, Article 26(1)(vi), Article 28, Article 3(1)(vi), Device mark, Famous mark, Figurative mark, Hantei, Trademark Examination Guideline, trademark infringement 10/10/2021

LV Damier pattern is unenforceable TM right against traditional Japanese checkered pattern

In an advisory opinion on trademark…