Article 3(1)(iii)

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…

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…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(2), Device mark, Distinctiveness, Famous mark, Figurative mark, Three dimensional mark, Trademark Appeal 02/13/2022

JPO Found Lego 3D Figure Mark Lack Distinctiveness

In a decision to the appeal against…

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…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(1)(vi), Article 3(2), Color marks, Famous mark, Non-Traditional trademark, Trademark Appeal 12/04/2021

Hermes Challenge to Register Packaging Colors

HERMES INTERNATIONAL, a French luxu…

alphabetical name, Article 3(1)(3), Article 4(1)(xvi), Distinctiveness, Madrid Protocol, Trademark Appeal 12/06/2020

El Clasico Scores a Goal in Trademark Race

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) overt…

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 …

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 3(1)(3), Three dimensional mark, Trademark Examination Guideline 04/19/2020

JPO protects 3D shape of cherry design bottle for soy sauce dispenser

In a recent administrative decision…

alphabetical name, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(1)(vi), Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xv), Article 4(1)(xvi), Descriptive mark, Famous mark, Invalidation, Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, Similarity of mark 03/15/2020

SWATCH Defeated in SWATCH vs iWATCH Trademark Dispute

The Trial Board of Japan Patent Off…