session 3 201601012versioncambodiaip.gov.kh/DocResources/37e8f796-83c0-43df-96a7-c... · 2016-01-22 · The Trademark Act was amended in May 2014 to include the protection of non-traditional

Session3InitiativesofJPO’sTrademarkAdministration;HighlightsofJapan’s15yearExperiencesinceitsAccessiontotheMadridProtocol

Sunao SatoJapanPatentOfficeJanuary20,2016

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TableofContents1. TrendsinTrademarkApplicationsatJPO2. ResultsofTrademarkExaminations3. ExaminationQualityManagement4. RegionalCollectiveTrademarkSystem5. RecentdevelopmentonNon-TraditionalTrademarksinJapan6. RevisionofTrademarkExaminationGuidelines7. TheSingaporeTreatyontheLawofTrademarks8. RevisionoftheRegistrationFeeandtheRegistrationRenewalFee9. OutlineoftheMadridProtocol10. Japan’sAccessiontotheMadridProtocol11. PreparationsforAccessingtotheMadridProtocol12. MajorChallengeforaccedingtotheMadridProtocol13. MechanismofJapaneseTrademarkSysteminAddressingtheMadridProtocol14. CollaborationwithWIPO15. InternationalCooperation16. ProjectofImprovingUser-FriendlinessofInternationalTrademarkApplications17. ClassificationofGoodsandServices18. WorkingGroupontheLegalDevelopmentoftheMadridSystem

Appendix: SummaryoftheJPO’s PresentationatRoundtableDiscussion held onthemarginoftheWGoftheMadridUniononNovember2015

1. Trends in Trademark Applications at JPO (1) Last 5 years

ThenumberoftrademarkapplicationsfiledattheJPOin2014exceeded120,000,andisexpectedtoincreaseslightlyin2015.

189,480 186,782208,661 206,491

239,935

167,326 160,499183,811 177,198

212,978

22,154 26,283 24,850 29,293 26,957

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Classes

Year

Number of Classes

113,519 108,060119,010 117,674

124,442

102,69495,648

107,222 103,978111,770

10,825 12,412 11,788 13,696 12,672

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Applications

Year

Number of Applications

1,8343,849

5,952 6,364

10,09111,620

346895

1,804

2,717

4,333 4,157

187 402875

1,310 1,881 1,999

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

0

2,000

4,000

6,000Designatedcountries<Graph 1> Madrid Filings from Japan

5,64011,800

24,577 23,98829,293 26,957

2,575 5,334

11,794 10,64113,696 12,672

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000<Graph2> Madrid Filings Designating Japan

JPOstartedacceptingapplicationsfromMarch14,2000. JPOstartedacceptingapplicationsfromMarch14,2000.

Number

EversinceJapanaccededtotheMadridProtocolin2000,thenumberofinternationaltrademarkapplicationsfrom/toJapanusingtheMadridProtocolhasbeenincreasing.

Number

2000 2003 2006 2009 2013 2014 2000 2003 2006 2009 2013 2014

Designated Countries Classes Applications

Year Year

Classes Applications

1. Trends in Trademark Applications at JPO (2) Madrid Protocol

ResultsofTrademarkExaminations

5

JPOhassteadilyshortenedthefirstaction(FA)pendencyandtotalpendency*(TP)fortrademarkapplications,byachievingpromptandefficientexaminations.

*Total Pendency: The period from the filing date of an application to the date a final decision are sent.

4.7 4.6 4.4 4.3 4.1

7.6 7.1

6.5 6.0 5.9

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

FY2010 FY2011 FY2012 FY2013 FY2014

FA Period TP Period

Classes(Unit: 1,000)

Months

2.ResultsofTrademarkExaminations

Avarietyofinitiativestoassureandverifythequalityoftrademarkexaminations

Initiative1:Formulating“QualityPolicy”and“QualityManual”・QualityPolicy;Basicprinciplesofqualitymanagementfortrademarkexaminations.

http://www.jpo.go.jp/seido_e/quality_mgt/pdf/quality_mgt/trademark.pdf

・QualityManual;Documentingandpublishingthequalitymanagementsystemanditsimplementation,andtheclarifiedrolesandresponsibilitiesofdepartmentsandofficialsintrademarkexaminationprocess.

http://www.jpo.go.jp/seido_e/quality_mgt/trademark_manual.htm

6

Initiative2:QualityAssurance・Approvals;Director’ssubstantiveandformalcheckoftrademarkexamination,includingthecheckofdrafteddocumentsofallthe

trademarkapplications.・UtilizationofCheckSheetsforExaminers;Toavoidtypicalcarelessmistakesthatcouldbemadeintheexaminationprocess,andthe

approvercaneasilycheck theexaminers’judgement.・Consultations; KnowledgeSharingandOpinionExchangebetweenExaminersandDirectors.

Members:11Experts(Universityprofessors, lawyers,patentattorneys,business operators,qualitymanagementprofessionals, etc.)

TheSubcommitteeonExaminationQualityManagementwasestablished (FY2014)Fromtheviewpointsofexperts,theSubcommitteeobjectivelyevaluatesthe implementationsystemofexaminationqualitymanagementanditscurrentstatusatJPO,andsuggestsimprovementsthatneedtobedoneonthebasisofsuchevaluations.

Initiative3:QualityVerification・QualityAudit; ReviewingapproveddocumentsandChecking theappropriatenessofdecisions,reasoningbehindnotificationsin

trademarkexaminations.・ UserSatisfactionSurvey andExchangeofOpinions withUsers;Clarifyingpointsthatneedtobeimproved,bygatheringuserfeedback.・ DiscrepancyAnalysisbetweenExaminationDecisionsandTrial/AppealDecisions;Assessingdifferencesbetweenresultsof

examinationsandappeal/trialdecisions,withaviewtodevelop theinitiatives ofimprovingthequalityoftrademarkexaminations.

3.ExaminationQualityManagement

RegionalCollectiveTrademark= “NameofRegion”+“NameofGoods(Service)”

Atooltoprotect“RegionalBrands”underTrademarkSysteminJapan

Inthepast,registrationwasnotallowed,inprinciple, fortrademarksthatcombineda“nameofregion”witha“nameofgoods (service)”,whicharetypicallyusedas“RegionalBrands”.The“RegionalCollectiveTrademarkSystem”,whichisasystemforregisteringsuchtrademarks,wasenforced in2006.Presently,587trademarks(AsofDec.31,2015)inthefieldofthefollowing goodsorservicesareregisteredasregionalcollectivetrademarks.

4.RegionalCollectiveTrademarkSystem (1)Outline

7

(e.g.)KobeBeef =Kobe+Beef

Vegetables Rice Fruits Meat, beef and chicken

56 7 44 58Fish and seafood products Processed food Milk and dairy products Seasoning

45 52 5 16Confections Noodles and grains Tea Liquors

11 11 16 13Soft drinks Plants Fabric, clothing and fabric goods Crafts, bags, bowls and sundries

1 3 56 80

Pottery and tiles Toys and dollsBuddhist shrines, Buddhist objects,

funeral objects and furnitureArticles of precious metals, blades and

tools

28 15 37 9Lumber, stones and coal Hot springs Services (excluding hot springs)

14 42 15

BreakdownofRegionalCollectiveTrademarksbyProduct (AsofDes.31,2015)

Note:Whenoneregistration designatesseveralgoods,itisaccounted forundereachgood.

BrochureCaseExamplesofRegionalCollective Trademarks

・Prefectures,・Municipalities,・CommerceandIndustryAssociations,・ChambersofCommerceandIndustry,・TouristAssociations,・RightHolders,etc.

Distributedto

4.RegionalCollectiveTrademarkSystem (2)DisseminationActivities

7

Inorder tobroadlydisseminatetheRegionalCollectiveTrademarkSystem,JPOconductsexplanatorymeetingsontheoutlineoftheSystemanditsexaminations/practicesthroughoutJapan,uponrequests.

JPOalsodistributesabrochure thatprovidesaneasytounderstandexplanationabout theRegionalCollectiveTrademarkSystemtopromote thedissemination anduseoftheSystemtousers.

Abooklettitled“CaseExamplesofRegionalCollectiveTrademarks”thatintroduces thedetailsofthegoodsandservicesthatwereregisteredasregional collectivetrademarksispublishedeachyear.Thebookletisdistributedtoprefectures,municipalities,CommerceandIndustryAssociations,ChambersofCommerceandIndustry, touristassociations,andrightholders,aswellasdistributedatexplanatorymeetings tobroadlydisseminatethesystemtothepublic.

“小豆島オリーブオイル(Shodoshima OliveOil)”ofShodoshima, KagawaPrefecture

(NPOCorporation:小豆島オリーブ協会(ShodoshimaOliveAssociation)

Exampleofthefirstregisteredtrademarkbyaneweligibleentityundernewsystem

PhotoCredit:Shodoshima Town

■Trademark:青森の黒にんにく(AomoriNoKuroNinniku)AomoriBlackGarlic

■RightHolder:協同組合青森県黒にんにく協会AomoriBlackGarlicAssociation

■Trademark:天草ぶり(Amakusa Buri)Amakusa Yellowtail

■RightHolder:熊本県海水養殖漁業協同組合KumamotoSeawaterCultureFisheriesCooperativeAssociation

Examplesofregisteredregionalcollectivetrademarksinthepast

■Trademark:鴨川温泉(Kamogawa Onsen)Kamogawa Spa

■RightHolder:鴨川温泉旅館業協同組合Kamogawa OnsenHotels

CooperativeAssociation

*Theinformationonthesetrademarksarepostedwithpermissionfromtheentitiesconcerned.

4. Regional Collective Trademark System (3) Expansion of Requirement for Eligible Entities (Revision of Article 7-2, Trademark Act)

Inthepast,theeligibleentitiesforregistrationwerelimitedtoassociationssuchasbusinesscooperativeassociations,agriculturalcooperatives,andfisheriescooperatives.TheeligibleentitiesforregistrationwereexpandedtoCommerceandIndustryAssociations,ChambersofCommerceandIndustry,andspecifiednon-profit organizations(NPOs) thatareplayingakeyroleindisseminating theregionalbrandsinrecentyears. (TherevisionbecameeffectiveonAugust1,2014.)Itbecamepossible toprovideprotectionatanearlydatethrough theSystemtoregionalbrandsthatarebeingdisseminatedbytheCommerceandIndustryAssociationsandotherentities.

10

TheTrademarkActwasamended inMay2014toinclude theprotectionofnon-traditionaltrademarksandprovidesupport forcorporatebrandstrategies(EffectivefromApril1,2015)

JPOhasreviseditstrademarkexaminationguidelines inordertoexamineNon-traditionalTrademarksappropriately.

SoundTrademark ColorTrademark

MotionTrademark HologramTrademark

PositionTrademark

Examplesof“Non-TraditionalTrademarks”RegisteredAbroad

RegisteredinEuropeHisamitsuPharmaceuticalCo.,Inc.

RegisteredinAustralia7- Eleven,Inc.

RegisteredinEurope

TorayIndustries,Inc.

RegisteredinGermanyNikonCorporation

Exampleofusage:

RegisteredintheUSYoshidaMetalIndustryCo.,Ltd.

5.RecentDevelopmentonNon-traditionalTrademarksinJapan(1)

JPOstartedacceptingapplicationsfornon-traditionaltrademarksonApril1,2015

Weacceptedmorethan1,100applicationsbytheendofDecember 2015and40applicationshavebeenregisteredsofar.

11

5.RecentDevelopmentonNon-traditionalTrademarksinJapan (2)

Breakdownof Applications andRegistrationsof“Non-TraditionalTrademarks”

TotalBreak down

Color Sound Position Motion Hologram

ApplicationsonApr/1/2015 481 192 151 103 32 3

Applications(fromApr 1st toDec.31st 2015) 1,150 448 365 243 80 14

Registrations（asofDec.31st 2015） 40 0 21 5 13 1

12

HisamitsuPharmaceuticalCo., Inc. SumitomoMitsuiCardCo., Ltd.

5.RecentDevelopmentonNon-traditionalTrademarks inJapan(3)

Dr.Ci:LaboCo., Ltd. WacoalCo., Ltd.

Examplesof “Non-TraditionalTrademarks”whichisregisteredinJapan

SoundTrademark(Reg.No.5804299) HologramTrademark(Reg.No.5804315)

PositionTrademark(Reg.No.5804314) MotionTrademark(Reg.No.5804316)

JPOcompletelyreformedthe“IndustrialPropertyDigitalLibrary(IPDL)”inresponsetotheuserneedswhicharegettingmoresophisticatedanddiversified,andnewlylaunchedaninformationprovidingservicenamed“J-PlatPat”fromMarch,2015.


Inusingthe“J-PlatPat”,itispossibletosearchnon-traditionaltrademarksbytypeoftrademark.*Informationstatedontheapplicationisusedtodeterminethetypeoftrademark.

Pleasemarkthetypeoftrademarkyouwanttosearch!


The Working Group on the Trademark Examination Standards was established in 2012 in order todiscuss the amendment and formulation of the “Trademark Examination Guidelines”.In Fiscal Year 2014, the Working Group discussed the Guidelines of non-traditional trademarks.From Fiscal Year 2015 to 2016, from the perspective of further enhancing the appropriateness andthe predictability of trademark examinations, the Working Group is under discussion the overallrevision of the Guidelines.

Scheduleofindividualdiscussiontopics

<FY2015>Mainlydiscussing theDistinctiveness ofthetrademarkswhichisdefined intheArticle3oftheTrademarkActdealingwithRequirementsfortrademarkregistration

(examples)

• Corporateslogans andtheothersimilarphrases(3-1-6)

• Commonnamesofgoodsorservices (3-1-1)

• MarkswhichindicatingtheQualityofgoodsorservices (3-1-3)

• AcquiredDistinctiveness ThroughUse(3-2), etc. 15

6.RevisionofTrademarkExaminationGuidelines

IndustrialStructureCouncil

IntellectualPropertyCommittee

TrademarkSystemSubcommittee

WGontheTrademarkExaminationStandards

<FY2016>Mainlywillbediscussed theUnregistrable trademarkssuchassimilartrademarkswiththeanotherpersons registeredtrademarkswhichisdefined Article4oftheTrademarkAct

(examples)

• Judgingthesimilarityoftrademarks(including non-traditionaltrademarks)(4-1-11)

• ContraventionofPublic orderormorality(4-1-7)

• Namesofanotherperson(4-1-8)

• Well-known trademarksofanotherperson(4-1-10,15)

• Misleading astothequality ofthegoodsandservices,(4-1-16) etc.

Japan acceded to the TLT in 1997 and the provisions of the Singapore Treaty except for the provision on theRelief Measures in Case of Failure to Comply with Time Limits (Article 14 (2), Singapore Treaty) are alreadyprovided for under the Trademark Act.In order to accede to the Singapore Treaty, we revised the Trademark Act in July 2015 for implementing theTreaty, by creating a new provision on relief measures in case of failure to comply with time limits regardless ofthe legal term or designated time limit (in view of Article 14 (2) (ii), Singapore Treaty) in the Trademark Act.The revised Trademark Act is scheduled to come into force around spring of 2016.

Adapting Japan’s Trademark Act

Conceptual Diagram of Relief Measures(Procedure period) (Period extended)

Not submitted within the time limit

Written request for continued processing

Documents

Itispossibletofileawrittenrequestforcontinuingtheprocessingandtakeotherprocedures(ofsubmittingdocuments)duringtheperiodextended.

Notices, order for amendment, etc. from IP Office Documents

7.TheSingaporeTreatyontheLawofTrademarks

Outline of The Singapore Treaty The Singapore Treatywas adopted in March 2006 and came into force in March 2009.Number of Member Countries: 42 (As of December 2015)The Treaty incorporated the content of the Trademark Law Treaty (TLT) which has been in force since 1996 andhas the objective of standardizing and simplifying the procedures for trademark registration applications thatare different in each country, to improve user-friendliness, and reduce the burden on applicants.

*PeriodfortakingactionswiththeTrialandAppealDept.etc.isanexceptiontotheruleonreliefmeasures.(Rule9(4),RegulationsUndertheSingaporeTreaty)

Current Fee New Fee Provision (Japanese TrademarkAct)

Registration Fee(For10years)

JPY37,600XNo.ofClasses


Article40(1)Article 68-30(1)(ii)

Registration RenewalFee(For10years)


JPY38,800XNo. ofClasses

Article40(2)Article 68-30(5)

JPO considered revising the fees for the purpose of reducing the burden on users, strengthening the corporatecompetitiveness and promoting economic revitalization through further use of trademarks.We reduced the registration fee by approximately 25% and the renewal registration fee by approximately 20%.The revision was promulgated in July 2015. The enforcement date will be specified by a Cabinet Order within aperiod not exceeding one year from the date of promulgation.

ProceduresandFeesforObtaining/MaintainingTrademarks

Examination

Ø Filing(1)FilingFee

Ø Registration(2)RegistrationFee

Ø RenewalofRegistration

(3)RegistrationRenewalFee

Ø RenewalofRegistration

(3)RegistrationRenewalFee

10Years 10Years

8.RevisionoftheRegistrationFeeandtheRegistrationRenewalFee

9.OutlineoftheMadridProtocol

TheMadridProtocolisatreatyforfilinginternationalapplicationstotheWIPOviavariouscountry’sIPOfficesandsecuringprotectionoftrademarksinthedesignatedcountriesafterundergoingexaminationsbasedonlawsofcountriesdesignatedforprotection.TheMadridProtocolwasadoptedin1989.Thereare97ContractingPartiesasofDecember2015.

(1)InternationalApplication

(3)todesignatedcountries

(2)InternationalRegistration

10.Japan’sAccessiontotheMadridProtocol

Inviewoftheuserneedsforsimple,promptandlow-pricedmethodofobtainingandprotectingtrademarkrightsnotonlyinJapanbutalsoabroad,underthecircumstancesinwhichinternationalcompetitionbetweencompanieswasincreasing,JapanaccededtotheMadridProtocolinDecember1999.TheProtocolcameintoforceinMarch2000.

Q1.DoyouthinkJapan’saccessiontotheProtocolwouldbenefityourcompany?

Yes94% (861companies)No2% (14companies)

Q2.IfJapanjoinedtheProtocol,wouldyourcompany considermakinguseoftheProtocolforfilingabroad?

Yes95% (741companies)No5% (36companies)

ConductingofUserNeedsSurvey(July1998)

Step1:1997～1998 FeasibilityStudy- ConductedUser-needsSurvey- ResearchedMadridapplicationproceduresconductedinothercountriesandatWIPO.

Step2:1998～1999 TrademarkLawAmended- RevisedTrademarkAct- DepositedaninstrumentofaccessiontotheMadridProtocol.

Step3:1999～2000 FinalPreparations- EstablishedtheInternationalTrademarkApplicationOffice(tofunctionastheOfficeofOriginandthecontactswithWIPO)- EstablishedtheSubstantiveExaminationOfficeforMadridApplications(tofunctionastheDesignatedOffice)- Conductedpromotionalactivitiestousers(seminars&consultations)

TheMadridProtocolbecameeffectiveonMarch14,2000.

11.PreparationsforAccedingtotheMadridProtocol

2221

17

10 11 119

6.2 6.4 6.6

6.5 6.9 7.96.2

5.3 4.84.7

4.2 4.3

0

5

10

15

20

25Months

Year

Inorder toentertheMadridProtocol,JPOhaschallengedtoshortenExaminationPeriodfromFA22months toFA11month, andhascontinued itseffortaftertheaccession.Measurestaken:

- support examinationprocessthroughoutsourcing- improveexaminationsystem(developedandintroducedcomputersystem)- hirednewtrademarkexaminersandassistantresearchersandrehiredformertrademarkexaminers

12.MajorChallengeforaccedingtotheMadridProtocol

AnyrequestsforterritorialextensiondesignatingJapanaredeemedtobeanapplicationfortrademarkregistrationfiledtoJapanonthedateofinternationalregistration.(Article68-9,TrademarkAct)(SubsequentdesignationsaredeemedtobeanapplicationfortrademarkregistrationfiledtoJapanonthedaytheywererecordedontheinternationalregister.)

à Thismadeitpossibletoapplyexistingprocedures,examinationpractices,andregistrationproceduresundertheJapaneseTrademarkAct.

TherearecasesforwhichexistingproceduresundertheJapaneseTrademarkActcannotbeapplied,duetointegratedmanagementoftheinternationalregister.

à ThereforeprovisionsonexemptionofproceduresundertheJapaneseTrademarkActwereestablished.Ex.:RestrictionondivisionofMadridProtocolroute applications/registrations;restrictionsonmakingchangestoapplications;restrictionsonamendmentperiod;renewalproceduresthroughinternationalregistrations;durationoftrademarkrightsbasedoninternationalregistrations;etc.

13.MechanismofJapaneseTrademarkSysteminAddressingtheMadridProtocol(1)

CharacteristicrulesoftheMadridProtocolwereprovidedforbytheTrademarkAct:(1)Examinationwithin18monthsà Inprinciple,tonotifyreasonsforrefusalwithin18monthsfromfiling.

(2) Newprotectionfromfilingtoregistrationà Righttomonetaryclaimwasintroduced.

(3) Internationalregisterandnationalregisterà Tostateitemsstatedontheinternationalregister(trademark,rightholder,designated

goods/services,etc.)onthenationalregisterwithoutanychanges.

(4) Publicationsà Topublish“publicationofapplication”and“publicationoftrademarkregistration”in

trademarkgazettestogetherwithreferencetranslationsofgoodsandservices.

(5)Replacementà Bothexisting domestictrademarkrightsandtrademarkrightsforMadridProtocolroute

whentheymeetcertainrequirements.

(6)Othermattersà Japanadoptedthesystemofindividualfeepayableintwoparts,etc.

13.MechanismofJapaneseTrademarkSysteminAddressingtheMadridProtocol(2)

14.CollaborationwithWIPO

KeepingcommunicationchannelsopenwithWIPOtoreviewandsolveoperationalissueswiththeMadridSystem:

n DispatchingJPOStaffmembertoTeam3ofWIPO,assistingexaminationoninternationalapplicationstobedoneatWIPO

n EnablingJPOandTeam3atWIPOtocommunicatewhenproceduresandoperationsneedtobeclarifiedandrevised

n ConsultingwithWIPOaboutlegalinterpretationsandthebestsolutionsforfillinggapsbetweenMadridcommonregulationsandpracticaloperations

n HoldingregularmeetingsatWIPOtoexchangeviewsandopinionsaboutoperationalissueswiththeMadridSystem

Ø ForASEANcountries,trainingonexaminationpracticesfortrademarkexaminersandholdingworkshopsforseniorofficialsofIPofficestosupport ASEANcountries’accessiontotheMadridProtocol,etc.・Myanmar：TrainingCourseonTrademarkforMyanmar（inTokyoonSeptember,2015）・ Vietnam:JPOTrademarkmission2015forNOIPexaminers（inTokyoonOctober,2015）

Vietnam-JapanIP-Seminar（inHanoi,VietnamonJanuary, 2015）・ Indonesia：Indonesia-Japan IP-Seminar（inTangerang,Indonesia onAugust, 2014)

・ BruneiDarussalam：Classification Seminar（inBruneiDarussalam,onOctober,2014）

u Cooperativeinitiativesontrademarksimplementedthusfar:

Ø InsupportingASEANcountries’accessiontotheMadridProtocol,JPOissupportingtheenhancementoforganizationalstructuresfortrademarkexaminationbasedoneachcountry’sneeds,byinvitingtraineestoTokyoorsendingexpertstoIPOsinreceivingcountries.

Ø JPOisconsideringanexchangeofinformationwithAsiancountriesonexaminationfordeterminingsimilarity/dissimilarity oftrademarks/goodsandservices, inordertoraisethelevelofefficiencyandpredictabilityintermsoftheir trademarkexaminations.

u Futurecooperationontrademarks:

15.InternationalCooperation(1)

InrapidlygrowingdevelopingcountriesandregionssuchastheASEANRegion,urgentandcollectiveactionsareneeded tocreateaframeworkinwhichtrademarksofJapanesecompaniescanbeadequatelyprotected.

BasedontheASEANIPOs-JPOIPRActionPlan2015-2016thatwasconcluded inMay2015atthe5thASEAN-JAPANHeadsof IntellectualProperty (IP)OfficesMeeting, JPOhasbeenconductingsupport activitiesonhumanresourcesdevelopment, enhancing ITinfrastructures,andhelpingASEANcountriestoaccedetheMadridProtocol.

The “TM5” is a framework established for the purpose of promoting international cooperationamong the five Trademark Offices of Japan, the U.S., Europe, China and Korea; and supportingglobal business activities of entities by developing an international framework that providesappropriate protection for, and ensures the strategic use of, their trademarks in countries aroundthe world.Currently, 13 projects are being implemented.The 4th TM5 Annual Meeting was held in Alexandria, the US from December 1 to 2, 2016.

1.TM5Website(KIPO)2.ComparativeAnalysisonExaminationResults(KIPO)3.CommonStatisticalIndicators(OHIM)4.TMView(OHIM)5.TMClassandTaxonomy(OHIM)6.IDList(USPTO)7.CommonStatisticalIndicators(USPTO)8.IndexingofNon-TraditionalTrademarks(USPTO)9.BadFaithTrademarkFilings (JPO)10.ImageSearchofFigureTrademarks(JPO)11.ImprovingUser-FriendlinessofInternational

TrademarkApplications (JPO)12.UserInvolvement(JPOandOHIM)13.Providing InformationonHowTM5Members

DescribeGoodsandServices(KIPO)

Current Projects

15.InternationalCooperation(2)

Outline

16.ProjectofImprovingUser-FriendlinessofInternationalTrademarkApplications(1)

WhenusingtheMadridsystem,therearesomecaseswheretheapplicantsfinddifficulttogetnecessaryinformationrelatingtodomesticproceduresandrequirementsofDesignatedOffices,duetodeferentproceduresandlanguages.Thisprojectaimstoprovideuserswith“easy-to-useinformationguide”regardingthedomesticproceduresandrequirementsofTM5partnersinthestandardizedformat,therebyensuringthatusersoftheMadridsystemfileinternationalapplications,andrespondtonotificationsofprovisionalrefusaltotheOfficeofDesignatedparties.

Main Activities in the Past

Atthe4thTM5AnnualMeetingheldattheUSPTOheadquartersinDecember2015,TM5Partnersagreedon“theEasy-to-useInformationGuideofTM5partners”,whichwascompiledbytheJPO.

Next Step JPOwillpublishthisguideontheTM5websiteshortlyincooperationwiththeKIPO.JPOwillconsiderenhancingtheinformation(content)providedintheguide,incooperationwithWIPO.

16.ProjectofImprovingUser-FriendlinessofInternationalTrademarkApplications(2)

StructureoftheGuide Image of the Guide

1.Whenfilinganapplication:PointstobenotedwhenfillingtheMM2format

2.ProceduresafternoticesoftheterritorialextensionarereceivedattheDesignatedOffices

3.ProceduresafterreceivingconfirmationofgrantofprotectionbyDesignatedOffice

4.Others

5.DeclarationsrelatingtoMadridProtocol

RelationwithusersforfilingapplicationsabroaddirectlyandviatheMadridsystemJPOreflectedtheneedsofJapaneseuserassociations (25associations) inJapan’s proposals forthe“Revision oftheNiceClassification” andthe“Expansion oftheIDList”.

(ExamplesofentriesacceptedintheNiceClassification: Randsels (Class 18),Yakitori(Class 29)andRamen(Class 30))

UseofSimilarGroupCodesTheSimilarGroupCodeisacodeforgroupsofGoods/Services thatarepresumed tobesimilartoeachother.UsingtheSimilarGroupCodeswillimprove thepredictabilityofexamination resultsrelatingtopriortrademarks.Itispossible tousetheSimilarGroupCodeasthesearchkeyforthetrademarksearchdatabaseintheJ-PlatPat.

（ URL： https://www3.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/cgi-bin/ET/TM_AREA_E.cgi?1447029573681）Aconcordance listbetweentheSimilarGroupCodes inJapanandKoreawasdeveloped andpublished.（ URL： http://www.jpo.go.jp/sesaku_e/j-k_codes2015.htm）JPOwillintroduce theSimilarGroupCodes todeveloping countries/emerging countriesandprovide support.

CooperationtotheWIPO/MGSforfilingapplicationsviatheMadridsystemJPOprovides dataonJapanesetranslationofindications ofGoods/Services, acceptance/rejectionofindications, andSimilarGroupCodes totheWIPOasdatafortheMGS(databaseforsearchingGoods/Services).Schedule forSimilarGroupCodedatatobecomeavailableontheMGS:TBD

17.ClassificationofGoodsandServices (1)

29

JPO has engaged in (i) improving the Nice Classification in the Asian context and (ii) standardizingpractices on indications of Goods/Services aimed at reducing the procedural burden on trademarkapplicants and reducing the examination burden on the IP Offices in each country, etc.

24C01SportingEquipmentClass6 Class25

Class9

Class19

Class27

Class28

Divingboardsofmetal

Protectivehelmetsforsports

Divingboards,notofmetal

Skiboots, Gymnasticshoes, Golfshoes

Gymnasticmats

Skigear,Weightliftingequipment

Similar

WhatisaSimilarityGroupCode?Similarity group codes presume similarity of G/Ss and are used as keys forsearching trademarks. They ensure consistency in determining similarity of G/Ssin examinationand predictability for applicants.


NumberofIrregularityNoticesduringtheRecent6Years

Year 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015No.ofInternationalApplications 1,567 1,547 2,127 1,881 1,999 1,962No.ofIrregularityNotices 478 645 778 550 495 360Irregularities/Applications 30.5% 41.7% 36.6% 29.2% 24.8% 18.3%

(Jan-Nov)

nJPOispromoting theuseofMadridSystem,andthetotalnumberofusingMadridSystemhavebeenincreasingyearly.

nHowever, someJapaneseusershesitatedtouseMadridSystembecausetherateofirregularitynoticeagainstclassificationandindicationofdesignatedgoods/serviceswashigh(approx.30%- 40%ofthetotalnumber ofinternationalapplicationsfromJapan).

nJPOhastakenmeasuresagainstirregularities incooperationwithWIPOinharmonizingpracticesonclassificationofGoodsandServicessince2012.

nSoJPOhascontinued toreviseits GuideofGoodsandServicestobeusedbyJapaneseusersforapplying internationalapplicationfromJapan,andtherateofirregularitynoticehasbeendrasticallydecreased.

JPOcooperateswithWIPOinharmonizingPracticesonClassificationofGoodsandServiceswithaimofpromotinguseoftheMadridsystembyJapaneseusers.


18.WorkingGroupontheLegalDevelopmentoftheMadridSystem

Outline

TheWorking GroupontheLegalDevelopmentoftheMadridSystemfortheInternationalRegistrationofMarkswasestablishedin2005,inordertomaketheMadridSystemmoreuser-friendlyunder theMadridUnion.TheWorking Group,whichwereheldeachyearandattendedbyrepresentativesoftheContractingPartiesincluding Japan,hadaseriesofdiscussionsonagendaitemssuchasthedraftsofcommonregulations,andtheoutcomesofwhichwereapprovedbytheAssemblyoftheMadridUnionwherenecessary.Atthe13th WGmeetingheldinNovember2015,discussionsweremadeonagendaitemssuchasaproposal fortheintroduction oftherecordal ofdivisionormergerconcerning aninternationalregistration,etc.,whichwillcontinue todiscuss.

RoundtablediscussionIn addition, the WG holds informal discussions at the roundtable to be held in the margin of theWG meetings in order to share among themselves practical issues and information relating to theMadrid system, which are to presented by WIPO and representatives of the Contracting Partiesfor possible future agenda items.At the round table held in November 2015, in addition to WIPO and the UK, JPO presented newissues relating to Japanese users when using the Madrid system caused by Japanese language, andits on-going research project about certification of identification of basic trademarks andtrademarks in international applications.Survey result will be compiled in March 2016, and JPO will share the results with those concerned.

SummaryoftheJPO’sPresentationatRoundtableDiscussionheldonthemarginoftheWGoftheMadridUnionon

November2015:

ThesurveyrelatingtoimprovingthecertificationpracticesbytheOfficeofOriginonidentificationbetweentrademarksof

basicapplications/registrationsandtrademarksofinternationalapplications

1.CharacteristicsoftheJapaneseLanguage

JapaneseisnotbasedontheRomanalphabet.Ithasthreewritingsystems(Kanjicharacters;andHiraganaandKatakanathataresomewhatlikeanalphabet).Inaddition tothem,avarietyofwritingsystemsandstylessuchasRomanlettersareusedonadailybasistoexpressideasanddesigns.

Japanesewritingsystems

KanjiCharactersForexample：佐藤

Japanese HiraganaForexample：さとう

KatakanaForexample：サトウ

RomanLettersForexample：SATO

ExamplesofregisteredtrademarksinJapan

Ø Anexampleof“Kanji”Rightholder：NintendoCo., Ltd.

Registrationnumber：2255284

Ø Anexampleof“Katakana”

Rightholder：YamahaCorporation


Ø Anexampleof“Hiragana”Rightholder：KONICAMINOLTA,INC.


Ø Anexampleoftwolinedparallelentriesof“Romanletters”and“Katakana”

Rightholder：KracieHoldings,Ltd.



Anactualexampleinuse(fromNintendo’swebsite)


Actualexamplesinuse(fromcompanywebsites)

YakultHonshaCo.,Ltd.

Yoghurtdrink

NISSINFOODSHOLDINGSCO.,LTD.Instantnoodles

AsahiSoftdrinksCo.,LTD.

Softdrink

2.IssuesforJapaneseuserswhenusingtheMadridSystem

Issue1Therearenotmanyregistered trademarksinJapan,whichconsistofonlyRomanlettersbecauseJapaneseisbasedonkanji,hiraganaandkatakana.Ontheotherhand,companiesthatintendtodeveloptheirbrandsoverseastendtoprefertousetrademarksconsistingofRomanletterswhichhavegreaterversatility.AccordinglytherearemanycasesinwhichJapaneseusers filenationalapplicationsonlytohavebasisforinternationalapplications,whentheyfile forinternationalapplicationsundertheMadridsystem.SothereisaburdenintermsoftimeandmoneyforuserstofiletrademarkswhicharenotintendedtouseinJapan,andfurthermore,thereisariskofrevocationoftrademarks(centralattack)duetonon-useoftrademarkwithinthreeyears.

Case1：ImurayaGroupCo.,Ltd. Case2：ICHIBANYACO.,LTD.Ø BasicTrademark

RegistrationNumber：5269747

Dateofapplication：March17,2009

Ø Trademarkfiledforinternationalregistration


Internationalregistrationdate：April2,2009 imuraya imurayaØ NationalTrademark


Dateofapplication：June20,2005

Ø NationalTrademark


Dateofapplication：January10,1974

Ø Trademarkfiledforinternationalregistration


Internationalregistrationdate：December1,2011

Ø BasicTrademark


Dateofapplication：August24,2011

Ø NationalTrademark


Dataofapplication：December6,2004

2.IssuesforJapaneseuserswhenusingtheMadridSystem

Thereisthepossibility toregistertrademarksinothercountries inspiteofthefactthatthetrademarkswillnotabletoberegisteredinJapan.However, internationalfilingsunder theMadridSystemmusthavebasictrademarksineachContractingCountry(basicrequirements).Moreover, evenafterinternational registration,ifbasictrademarksarerevokedwithinfiveyearsfromthedateofinternational registration,theinternational registrationsarealsorevoked,astheyarewithinthescopeofbeingrevokedasbasictrademarks.(Dependency）Thereforetherearecasesinwhichapplicationsmustbefiledtoeverycountryindividually becausetrademarksthataredifficult toberegisteredinJapancannotbebasicapplicationsforinternationalapplications.Asaresult,usersdonotusetheMadridsystem.

Case1：HinoMotors,Ltd.Ø Corporatename“Hino” isconsidered tobeageographical

namefromthecityof“Hino” inJapan, anditisnotregisteredintermsofdistinction.

Ø Ontheotherhand,“Hino” asacharacterisnotgoingtomatterasmuchintermsofdistinction inothercountries.

Ø Inthecaseofacquiringrightsinothercountries,anapplicationmustbefiled fortheothercountriesdirectly.

Case2：HamamatsuPhotonicsK.K.Ø Corporatebrand“HAMAMATSU”isconsidered tobea

geographicalnamefromthecityof“Hamamatsu”inJapananditisnotregisteredintermsofdistinction.Thegoodswhichareabletoberegisteredaremerelyextremelylimitedspecificgoods (photomultiplier tubes).

Ø Asacorporatebrand,itisdifficult tofileforinternationalapplications underMadridSystemonthebasis oftrademarksinJapan.

Issue2

3.CertificationofidentificationofbasictrademarksandtrademarksininternationalapplicationsattheJPOasanOfficeoforigin

TheJPO’sPracticeIndealingwiththeinterpretationof “identification”whenitcomestocertifying theidentificationofbasictrademarksandtrademarksofinternationalapplicationsinanofficeoforigin inaccordancewithArticle3(1)oftheProtocolandRule9(5)(d)ofthecommonregulations, theJPOstrictlyinterpretsthatboth trademarksareidenticalintermsoftheircompositions andforms (including similarfigures).

Anexamplerecognizedtobeidentical Anexamplenotrecognizedtobeidentical

WIPO WIPO

Ø Atrademarkofinternationalapplication

Ø BasicTrademark Ø BasicTrademark Ø Atrademarkofinternationalapplication

VS VS

VSVS

SANUPS

4.Surveysconcerningcertificationofidentificationofbasictrademarksandtrademarksininternationalapplications

Whenitcomestocertifyingtheidentificationofbasictrademarksandtrademarksininternationalapplications,usersarerequestingthatmoreflexibleoperationsbeimplementedinregardtoapplicationsfiledtotheJPOasanofficeoforigin.TheJPOisnowconductingsurveysonpracticesrelatingtocertificationworksbyanofficeoforiginforContractingParties,inordertoenableuserstoavailthemselvesofthebenefitsoftheMadridSystemtherebypromotingtheuseoftheMadridSystem.SurveyresultswillbecompiledinMarch2016andtheJPOwould liketosharethesurveyresults.

Outline

SurveyContent

1. ComparativesurveyonidentificationTheJPOwillconductasurveycomparing70,000basictrademarksandtrademarksofinternationalapplicationsthathadbeenregisteredinternationallybetween2013and2014,inregardtotheirsimilarity/identifybyusingROMARINandothermeans.2. SurveybyquestionnaireandinterviewsTheJPOwillconductaquestionnairesurveyof50membercountriesandoftop50companies’usersinJapanandabroadtocollectinformationabouttheactualcasesincertifyingidentificationofbasictrademarksandtrademarksininternationalapplications.InterviewsurveyswithJapanesecompanieswillbealsoconductedbasedontheresultsofthequestionnairesurvey.

THANKYOUFORYOURATTENTION!