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日本語原文 / Japanese original Article information Article type: Case note Category: Trademarks, Unfair competition law Topics: Distinctiveness, Confusion First published on this website: 2026-11-01 Display and classification checked: November 2, 2026 Originally published on Ameblo: 2024-08-22 (Japan time). Full English translation. https://ameblo.jp/hideki-takaishi/entry-12864549172.html [Unfair Competition Prevention Act j] 2023 (Ne) 10048 “Dr. Martens” <Miyasaka> (1) Yellow we

Applied-for trademark: “AONO” Does not fall under Article 3(1)(iv). The surname “Aono” (青野) ranks 797th or 849th, with 20,000 people and 6,000 households. ⇒ Nationwide, the number cannot be regarded as particularly large. https://www.jpo.go.jp/system/laws/rule/guideline/trademark

* Article 3(2) applied to the three-dimensional trademark for a Shin Godzilla figurine. (Excerpts from the decision) The three-dimensional shape of Shin Godzilla differs in overall proportions from earlier Godzilla characters: the head is smaller, the thinness of the forelimbs (a

Read the Japanese version / 日本語版を読む Article information Article type: Case note Categories: Trademarks Topics: Distinctiveness First published on this website: 2026-10-16 Display and classification checked: 2026-10-17 Case information: Reiwa 6 (Gyo-Ke) No. 10058 [Trademarks] IP High Court, Reiwa 6 (Gyo-Ke) No. 10058 (Judge Hibiki Shimizu) Three-dimensional shape of a support base for a dental model → Registration refused under Article 3(1)(iii); Article 3(2) not satisfied. (E

日本語版 Article information Article type: Reports and activities Category: Trademarks Topics: Similarity of trademarks, Distinctiveness, Examination and appeal practice First published on this site: 2026-10-11 Display/classification checked: 2026-10-11 Trial and Appeal Practitioners Study Group Report 2024 — Theme 6 (Trademarks) [Similarity of composite marks] <Marks formed by adding other characters, etc., to an already registered mark> • Whether the registered-mark portion is

日本語版 Article information Article type: Reports and activities Category: Trademarks Topics: Distinctiveness, Examination and appeal practice First published on this site: 2026-10-11 Display/classification checked: 2026-10-11 Trial and Appeal Practitioners Study Group Report 2024 — Case 6 (Trademarks) [Application of Article 3(1)(iv) of the Trademark Act to a mark combining a common surname and a customary name] IP High Court, Reiwa 5 (Gyo-Ke) No. 10031 — Ikegami Seimensho Wher

日本語版 Article information Article type: Case note Category: Trademarks Topics: Distinctiveness First published on this site: 2026-10-10 Display/classification checked: 2026-10-10 [Trademarks] Osaka District Court, Reiwa 4 (Wa) No. 9818 — “熱中対策応急キット” (Heatstroke countermeasure emergency kit) (Judge Takemiya) *At the date of the registration decision, “熱中対策” was understood to mean “heatstroke countermeasures.” → No distinctiveness (contrary to Article 3(1)(iii) of the Trademark

日本語版 Article information Article type: Administrative decision note Category: Trademarks Topics: Examination and appeal practice、Distinctiveness First published on this site: 2026-10-10 Display/classification checked: 2026-10-10 [Trademarks] Trial decision, Appeal against refusal No. 2023-10504 Applied-for mark: “完全” (complete) → No distinctiveness (contrary to Article 3(1)(vi) of the Trademark Act). (Excerpt from the trial decision, translated) Even if the applied-for mark,

日本語版 Article information Article type: Case note Category: Trademarks Topics: Distinctiveness, Examination and appeal practice First published on this site: 2026-10-10 Display/classification checked: 2026-10-10 [Trademarks] IP High Court, Reiwa 6 (Gyo-Ke) No. 10038 Applied-for mark: “新生甘酒” (Shinsei amazake) → No distinctiveness (contrary to Article 3(1)(iii) of the Trademark Act). 1. If understood as “新生” + “甘酒” It could ordinarily be used for amazake whose ingredients, manuf

日本語版 Article information Article type: Case note Category: Trademarks Topics: Similarity of trademarks、Distinctiveness First published on this site: 2026-10-10 Display/classification checked: 2026-10-10 [Trademarks / Similarity] Tokyo High Court, Heisei 12 (Ne) No. 6252 *During prosecution, the applicant emphasized the distinctive spelling “BeaR.” → Dissimilar to “bear.” (Excerpts from the judgment, translated; portions omitted) [...] In the market for clothing and other desi