Japan Trademark Law

alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(vii), Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), Bad faith, Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark 06/08/2024

Trademark dispute: MARNI vs. MARNO

The Italian fashion brand “MARNI” l…

Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), Bad faith, Famous mark, Invalidation, Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, Similarity of mark, Trademark Appeal 06/02/2024

Trademark battle: FORTNITE vs FORTNIGHT

In an invalidation trial against TM…

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…

alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(xi), Composite mark, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark, Trademark Appeal 05/18/2024

Trademark dispute: “SOFTWEAR” vs “SOFTWAIR”

In an appeal trial disputing simila…

abbreviation, alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xv), Composite mark, Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Name of a living individual, Opposition, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark 05/11/2024

Tennis King Roger Federer Defeated out of the Court

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismi…

alphabetical name, Article 4(1)(xi), Article 4(1)(xix), Article 4(1)(xv), Bad faith, Famous mark, Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, similarity of goods, Similarity of mark 05/04/2024

ZARA Unsuccessful Opposition against TM “LAZARA”

On April 22, 2024, the Japan Patent…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(2), Device mark, Distinctiveness, Famous mark, IP High Court, Trademark Appeal 04/28/2024

IP High Court Rejected TM Registration of AP “ROYAL OAK” Watch Design

On March 28, 2024, the Japan IP Hig…

Acquired distinctiveness, Article 3(1)(3), Article 3(1)(vi), Article 3(2), Color marks, Descriptive mark, Distinctiveness, Famous mark, IP High Court, Non-Traditional trademark, Three dimensional mark, Trademark Appeal 04/21/2024

Japan IP High Court said No to registering the color of Hermes packaging

The Japan IP High Court ruled to di…

similarity of goods, similarity of service, Trademark Examination Manual 04/13/2024

Acceptable goods and services for Metaverse and NFTs

On March 29, 2024, the Japan Patent…

Article 4(1)(xi), Opposition, Similarity of mark, similarity of service 04/06/2024

COCO vs. KOKO

In a recent administrative decision…