[Trademark] 2024 (Gyo-Ke) 10066, “UNITED GOLD” Case <Nakadaira>
Updated: 1 day ago
Article information
Article type: Case note
Category: Trademarks
Topics: Distinctiveness
First published on this website: 2026-11-01
Display and classification checked: November 2, 2026
Originally published on Ameblo: 2025-07-02 (Japan time). Full English translation.
[Trademark] 2024 (Gyo-Ke) 10066, “UNITED GOLD” Case <Nakadaira>
Trademark at issue: “UNITED GOLD”
Cited trademark: “UNITED / Yunaiteddo” (the English word and its Japanese katakana rendering, written on two lines)
*Because “UNITED” had weak distinctiveness in the fashion industry and related industries, “UNITED GOLD” is an inseparable whole.
⇒ Not similar.
(Excerpt from the court's reasoning)
… In the fashion industry handling clothing and accompanying personal accessories, and in the retail industries for those goods, the “UNITED” portion is found to have weak distinctiveness. Accordingly, because the “UNITED” portion of the trademark at issue is not found to possess any particular distinctiveness, it is appropriate to view the trademark at issue as a mark having the inseparable overall composition “UNITED GOLD.” It is not considered to be observed separately as “UNITED” and “GOLD”; therefore, the pronunciation “Yunaiteddo” does not arise from the trademark at issue.
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The first-published date remains unchanged. Display maintenance, classification changes, related-article updates, and text corrections are recorded separately.
November 1, 2026: First published on this website.
November 2, 2026: Added article information, classification, topics, language navigation, related articles where the same case was confirmed, consultation guidance, and SEO. The original text and first-published date were preserved.
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