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January 29, 2013 KOJI MURAI JPAA International Activity Center JTA International Activity Commitee

January 29, 2013 KOJI MURAI JPAA International Activity Center JTA International Activity Commitee. Upcoming Revision of Trademark Law and Design Law in Japan. IP Practice in Japan Committee Pre-Meeting 2013 Mid-Winter Institute. Current state of trademark protection in Japan

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January 29, 2013 KOJI MURAI JPAA International Activity Center JTA International Activity Commitee

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  1. January 29, 2013 KOJI MURAI JPAA International Activity CenterJTA International Activity Commitee Upcoming Revision of Trademark Law and Design Law in Japan IP Practice in Japan Committee Pre-Meeting 2013 Mid-Winter Institute

  2. Current state of trademark protection in Japan New and proposed amendments to the Japan Trademark Law New and proposed amendments to the Japan Design Law

  3. 1．Current State of Trademark Protection in Japan Traditional Marks

  4. Japan Trademark Law  Article 2 (Definitions, etc.) (1)"Trademark" in this Act means any character(s),figure(s),sign(s) or three-dimensional shape(s), or any combination thereof, or any combination thereof with colors (hereinafter referred to as a "mark") which is: • used in connection with the goods of a person who produces, certifies or assigns the goods as a business; or • used in connection with the services of a person who provides or certifies the services as a business (except those provided for in the preceding item).

  5. Traditional Marks • Character(s) • Figure(s) • Sign(s) • Three-dimensional shape(s) • Any combination thereof • Any combination thereof with colors (JPO website)

  6. 2.New and Proposed Amendments to the Japan Trademark Law Non-traditional Marks

  7. Types of Trademarks to be Protectable Under Amended Trademark Law Protectable NOT Protectable Scents Tastes Texture (touch) Marks Trade Dress Motion Marks Holograms Colors Position Marks Sounds

  8. Registrability Requirements (1) Motion, Hologram and Position Marks: Marks solely consisting of undistinguishable letters or figures are not registered unless obtaining the secondary meaning

  9. Registrability Requirements (2) Color Marks: A secondary meaning is required. Color marks without delineated contours, particularly single or double colors or distinctiveness are not registrable. SoundMarks: Marks consisting only of elements indispensable to secure the functions of the goods or the services cannot be registered (example: ; 3D mark with position mark; hologram mark with figure mark, )

  10. Examination of New Type Marks 1. Determination of similarity 2. Functional trademarks

  11. Determination of Similarity As with existing types of trademarks, determination of similarity will include consideration of letters, figures, etc., as well as comparison of elements of the new trademarks. Marks will be compared to existing marks, as well as new types of marks. (e.g., sound mark with letter marketc.).

  12. Marks consisting solely of elements indispensable to secure the functions of the goods or the services are considered functional, and cannot be registered. (e.g.; sound of emergency siren) Determination of Functional Mark

  13. Application Requirements for a New Type Trademark • Identification of type • Specimen • Detailed explanation of trademark • Documentation to establish acquisition of secondary meaning • Electronic media with elements such as motion or sounds

  14. Proposed Amendments (1) Transitional Measures Right to continue use of a trademark used prior to enactment of the revised Trademark Law is considered necessary.

  15. Proposed Amendments (2) Definition of Trademark Trademarks are marks which enable consumers to recognize the goods or services as being connected with a certain person’s business. There are proposals to incorporate “distinctiveness” into the definition of a “trademark”.

  16. Definition of “Use” Because use of a sound cannot be recognized by sight and because phonetic use of a word trademark may fall under the “use” of a new sound trademark, a new definition of “use” must be codified. Proposed Amendments (3)

  17. Establishment of a system to cancel registrations that have lost their distinctiveness Currently, there is no procedure in Japan for cancelling a registration for a mark that has lost distinctiveness. As an increasing number of jurisdictions worldwide do provide systems for cancelling or vacating marks which have become generic, there is a perceived need to consider introducing such a system in Japan. Proposed Amendments (4)

  18. Possible Schedule for Amendments to the Japan Trademark Law JPO Draft Report: November 2012 Public Comments: December 17, 2012 to January 16, 2013 Final JPO Report: February, 2013 Bill proposal to National Diet: March 2013 Amended law takes effect in 2014

  19. Points to Remember These types of marks will become protectable in Japan from 2014: • Motion marks • Hologram marks • Color marks • Position marks • Sound marks

  20. 2.New and Proposed Amendments to the Japan Design Law Image design Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs

  21. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. KOJI MURAI kmurai@giplaw-osaka.co.jp

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