[Unfair Competition Prevention Act] 2023 (Ne) 10012 <Shoji>
更新日：2 日前
Article information
Article type: Case note
Category: Unfair competition law
Topics: Confusion, Indications of goods or business
First published on this website: 2026-11-01
Display and classification checked: November 2, 2026
Originally published on Ameblo: 2024-08-11 (Japan time). Full English translation.
[Unfair Competition Prevention Act] 2023 (Ne) 10012 <Shoji>
The shape of AstraZeneca's inhaler for bronchial asthma
⇒ The finding that it was not an “indication of goods or business” is understandable.
The court cut the issue short by finding no “likelihood of confusion” because the primary consumers of prescription drugs are physicians and pharmacists, while patients are secondary consumers. (Many judgments are to the same effect.)
Translator’s notes (editorial)
The source has 患者行, apparently a typographical error for patients; the intelligible meaning “patients” is used here.
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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.
