[Copyright] IP High Court, Case No. 2025 (Ne) 10063

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Article information

Article type: Case note

Display and classification checked: 2026-09-30

Categories: Copyright / Unfair competition law / United States

Topics: Governing law / Works made for hire / Licensing / False allegations

Published on this website: 2026-09-29

[Copyright] IP High Court, Case No. 2025 (Ne) 10063

"Mark Gonzales / Angel" (Presiding Judge Moritomi)

(= First instance: Tokyo District Court, Case No. 2023 (Wa) 70127, Presiding Judge Shibuya)

<Applicable law>

Japanese law applies to copyright protected in Japan, and U.S. law applies to copyright protected in the United States.

<Work made for hire under U.S. law denied>

The works constitute neither works made for hire under U.S. copyright law nor works made in the course of duties under Japanese copyright law.

<No transfer of copyright>

D, the representative of Cujo, lacked authority to conclude the contract, and the defendant company was aware of this. Apparent authority under California law is also not established.

<Obligation to return>

The trademarks at issue are included within the scope of the obligation to return under Article 11 of the license agreement at issue.

⇒ Since the defendant company holds neither the copyright nor the trademark rights at issue, sending the warning letter constitutes communication of false facts.

https://lnkd.in/gqeHvsuJ

https://lnkd.in/gJNEGFmu

hanrei-pdf-95450.pdf — courts.go.jp

Originally posted on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7509879940721397760/

Related articles and decisions

Shared topic: False allegations — [Unfair Competition Prevention Act / Notification of false facts]

Shared topic: Works made for hire — [Copyrighted works] Osaka District Court, Case No. 2023 (Wa) 9267

Shared topic: Licensing — [Copyright] Tokyo District Court, Case No. 2024 (Wa) 70368

Updates and corrections

This log starts on 30 September 2026. Display and classification checks are distinct from a review of the legal analysis.

2026-09-30 — Presentation update: added the article type, this change log and a link to consultation options. The existing article text was preserved.

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