Japan Trademark Law

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…

Trademark assignment, Trademark ownership, Transfer ownership 02/27/2021

Transferring Trademark Ownership in Japan

Trademark owners can freely sell th…

alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(viii), Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xv), Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, Similarity of mark 02/19/2021

Like a Jaguar, but not JAGUAR

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismi…

abbreviation, alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xv), compound mark, Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Madrid Protocol, Name of a living individual, Opposition, Similarity of mark 02/14/2021

Ariana Grande Loses Trademark Opposition at Japan Patent Office

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismi…

Article 4(1)(xi), composite, Composite mark, compound mark, Opposition, Similarity of mark 02/06/2021

COSTA COFFEE vs Caffè la Costa

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismi…

Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), composite, Composite mark, Device mark, Famous mark, Figurative mark, Likelihood of confusion, Monogram, Opposition, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark 01/31/2021

Chanel isn’t Gonna Getcha

Chanel lost in its attempt to block…

Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xvi), Composite mark, Opposition, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark 01/24/2021

SMART vs SMART TYRE

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismi…

Article 4(1)(xi), IP High Court, Similarity of mark, similarity of service, Trademark Appeal 01/17/2021

Japan IP High Court ruled “AZURE” is unregistrable due to “AZULE”

On December 23, 2020, the Japan IP …

abbreviation, Article 4(1)(vii), Article 4(1)(viii), Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), composite, Composite mark, Famous mark, Geographical indication, Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, Similarity of mark 01/10/2021

The University of Oxford Failed in Opposition Against “OXFORD” mark

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismi…

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 …