Protection of New Type of Trademark in Japan-“Present Basis and Future”

JPAA International Activities CenterFujiko Shibata

October 22, 2013

IP Practice in Japan Committee Pre-Meeting Seminar

Contents

1. Protection of present trademark

-Introduction & Framework of Japanese Trademark Law at Present

2. Protection of future-Law revision

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Introduction-1(Purposes)

• Section 1 of Japanese Trademark Law

• 　 “ The purpose of this Act is, through the protection of trademarks, to ensure the maintenance of business confidence of persons who use trademarks and thereby to contribute to the development of the industry and to protect the interests of consumers.”

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Introduction-2(Definitions)

•Mark:

• Any character(s), figure(s), sign(s) or three-dimensional shape(s), or

• any combination thereof, or

• any combination thereof with colors :

• … colors are not prerequisite requirement…

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Obligation for the holder

1. Use of the trademark:

• -Sanction for no-use of the mark in 3 years by rescission of registration

• 2. Fair use of the trademark:

• -Sanction by rescission of registration

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Introduction-3 (Registerable Example 1)

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Introduction-3 (Registerable Example 1)

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Introduction-3 (Unregisterable Example)

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–If an international registration application includes the following description in “Description of the mark”, it is not registered in Japan

(a) Sound mark(b) Olfactory mark(c) Color mark

Framework-1

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Framework-2

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– Rescission of the registration of the trademark– Post grant opposition– Invalidation trial– Trial for the rescission of trademark right

• Non-use under the section 50• Unfair use under 51, 52 bis, and 53• Registration without authorization of the

trademark holder by an agent under 53 bis

Law revision-1

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–Expansion of scope of marks as trademarks

–A trademark being composed of moving images–File shows moving will be necessary

US Reg. No. 3872001(Int. Reg. No. 1032093)

Law revision-2

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• Trademark by using hologram

• Trademark by using plural colors

Germany Reg. No. 304532819

Australia Reg. No. 749403

Law revision-3

• Trademark composed of figure and color(s)

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CTM Reg. No. 2319937

US Reg. No. 3776468

Law revision-4• Marks composed of sound

– Score will be necessary

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CTM Reg. No. 8622144

Law revision-5

– Regional collective trademarks (Section 7 bis)– Eligibility of the applicant will be broaden.

– “A commerce and industry association, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and a non-profitable organization” will have a trademark right.

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2013.01

Practical TipsTime schedule is unknown

Forced into April of 2015?

Details of documents for filing are not clear

Please ask Japanese Benrishi before filing of Madrid protocol application

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Any Questions?

Thank you for your kind attention

Ayafune International Patents & Trademarks

Fujiko Shibata

dania@ayafune.com

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Thank you!