Starting from April 1, 2015, the Japanese Trademark Act has been revised to allow registration of non-traditional trademarks. After three years, applications are still difficult to file, mainly due to the problematic examination process and filing methods. Kazuya Sekiguchi, Japanese and European Patent Attorney, sheds some much needed light on this subject.
A qualified patent attorney for both the JPO and the EPO, Kazuya Sekiguchi can handle Japanese and European cases directly and independently. Working from the Dennemeyer & Associates Munich office, he drafts patent/utility model applications, prepares responses to office actions and conducts appeals in front of the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the European Patent Office (EPO).
In his presentation, Mr. Kazuya Sekiguchi makes a detailed introduction into the new types of trademarks that are now allowed to be registered in Japan while also explaining what the requirements are for filing in each case.
Topics discussed:
- Types of patents that are now registrable in Japan: requirements for filing, distinctiveness and similarity;
- Motion trademarks: number of drawings for explaining the movement of the mark, the distinctiveness of motion and trajectory;
- Hologram trademarks: number of designs that need to be included in the application form, distinctiveness and guidelines regarding similarity;
- Color trademarks: defining the colors and combination of colors, color protection for certain parts of a product, instructions for distinctiveness;
- Sound trademarks: the five components that go into establishing a sound trademark, guidelines for distinctiveness and similarity, language components;
- Position trademarks: explaining the position of a mark in the application form, distinctiveness and similarity;
To watch the entire presentation, please access the link below.
The above article is part of series. Read the other blog post of our Dennemeyer talks IP series and watch the Annual Meeting presentation here:
1. " Dennemeyer talks IP: IP budgeting and forecasting."
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.