Role of the Designated Contracting Party, i.e. Substantive...

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Sunao SATOJapanPatentOfficeJanuary21,2016

Session9RoleoftheDesignatedContractingParty,i.e.SubstantiveExaminationandOppositionProcedureBeforeaDesignatedContractingParty,NotificationsbyDesignatedOfficeontheStatusofInternationalRegistration,RespondingtoRefusals,etc.

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1.FlowofExaminationProcedures

2.SpecificRequirementsforDesignatingJapan

3.FrequentlyCitedGroundsforRefusal

4.JPOExaminationPractices

5.ProcedurestoRespondtoProvisionalRefusals

6.AfterReceivingaGrantofProtection

7.Opposition,AppealsandTrials2

TableofContents

NotificationofTerritorialExtensiondesignatingJapan(deemedtobeanapplicationfiledwiththeJPOon thedateofinternationalregistration/recordalofsubsequentdesignation)

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1.FlowofExaminationProcedures- ataglance

FirstOfficeActionA)StatementofGrantofProtection

orB)NotificationofProvisional Refusal

Publicationoftheregisteredmark

Publicationoftheapplication

LimitationàWIPOorWrittenAmendment/WrittenOpinionà JPO(viaarepresentativedomiciledinJapan)

A)

PaymentofSecondPartofIndividualFeeàWIPOà RegistrationonJPO’sregister(ProtectioninJapanisconfirmed) Opposition

Period

B)

ConfirmationofProvisionalRefusal

Decisiontorefuseatrademarkregistration

StatementofGrantofProtection

AppealagainstExaminer’sDecision

NotificationofTerritorialExtensiondesignatingJapan

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Examination

Publicationoftheregisteredmark


Opposition Period

ConfirmationofProvisional Refusal

Appeals againstExaminer’sDecision

StatementofGrantofProtection

NotificationofProvisional Refusal

PaymentofSecondPartofIndividual FeeàWIPO

WrittenAmendment/WrittenOpinionà JPO(viaarepresentativedomiciledinJapan)

3months+extendable1month

3months

RegistrationonJPO’s register

2months

3monthsExamination


6- 7monthsonaverage(asofOctober2014)

1.FlowofExaminationProcedures- timeline

Decisiontorefusearegistration

LimitationàWIPO Anytime*AnytimethecaseisbeforetheJPOinordertoresolvegrounds forrefusal.

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• ThemarkhastobeoneofthetypesprotectedundertheJapaneseTrademarkActArticle2(1),namely“anycharacter(s),figure(s),sign(s),threedimensionalshape(s),oranycombinationthereof,oranycombinationthereofwithcolors,orsoundsoranyothersprescribedintheCabinetOrder.

RevisedAct3-Dmarks OKPositionmarks OKColorpersemarks OKMotionmarks OKHologrammarks OKSoundmarks OKOlfactorymarks -Tastemarks -

*RevisedtrademarkActhascomeintoeffectasfromApril1,2015

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l TheJapaneseTrademarkActdoesnotprotectguaranteemarks.

l TheJPOfollowstheproceduresbelowwhenthemarkisindicatedasa“collectivemark,certificationmark,orguaranteemark”inthenoticeofdesignation:

i)TheJPOissuesthenotificationofprovisional refusalinvitinganapplicanttoindicatewhichtypeofmarkstheapplicantwishestoprotectinJapan,andtosubmitnecessarydocuments suchasaproofofbeing thejuridicalperson.

ii)Ifholders seekprotectionunder“guaranteemarks”,theirapplicationswillberefused basedonthemainparagraphofArticle3(1).

Types ofmarksCollective mark Protectableas“collective marks”or“regionalcollectivemarks”Certification marks Protectableas“collective marks”,“regionalcollectivemarks”,or

“ordinarymarks”

Guarantee marks Not-protectable

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u PaymentofSecondPartofIndividualFee (Rule34(3))

lSecondpartofindividualfee:328(CHF)foreachclass*FirstPart:99(CHF)foroneclassplus× 75(CHF)foreachadditionalclass

lPaymenttoWIPO

lWithin3months fromthedateonwhichthestatementofgrantofprotectionissent.Ifthesecondpartoftheindividualfeeis notpaidwithinthedeadline,theinternationalregistrationwillbecancelledwithrespecttoJapan.*ThenewRule5bis“ContinuedProcessing”willtakeeffectonJan.1,2015,wherebyanapplicantorholderwhofailedtocomplywithatimelimitmaysubmitarequesttoIBforcontinuedprocessing.

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u JPOconductsexaminationon:- Clarityofgoods/services- Absolutegrounds- Relativegrounds- IntentiontoUse

3.FrequentlyCitedGroundsforRefusal

u FrequentlycitedGroundsforRefusalare:(1)Clarityofgoods/services(Article6(1))(2)Similaritytopriorregisteredtrademarks(Article4(1)(xi))(3)IntentiontoUse(mainparagraph,Article3(1))

[Note]JPOdoesnothaveapartialregistrationsystem,meaningthatifapplicantsdonotrespondtoprovisionalrefusals,theirentireapplicationswillultimatelyberefused.

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4.JPOExaminationPractices(1)GoodsandServices

(1)Clarityofgoods/services(Article6(1))

CLASSHEADINGS

lClassheadingsoflistofclasses,withexplanatorynotesundertheNICEAgreement,donotcoverallgoodsorservicesinthatclass.

lSomeoftheclassheadingsareacceptableasindicationsofgoodsorservices,providedthattheindicationmeetstheclarityrequirement.

lUnacceptableclassheadingsandexamplesforalternativeindicationsareprovidedontheJPO’swebsite(Englishpage):http://www.jpo.go.jp/torikumi_e/t_torikumi_e/japan_under_the_madrid_protocol.htm

1:Chemicals usedinindustry, scienceandphotography,aswellasinagriculture,horticultureandforestry;6:Ironmongery,smallitemsofmetalhardware;goodsofcommonmetalnotincluded inotherclasses;7:Machinesandmachinetools;9:Scientific, nautical,surveying, photographic, cinematographic,optical,weighing,measuring,signaling, checking(supervision), life-savingandteachingapparatusandinstruments;12:Vehicles; apparatusforlocomotionbyland,airorwater;14.Preciousmetalsandtheiralloysandgoodsinpreciousmetalsorcoatedtherewith,notincluded inotherclasses;16:Paper,cardboardandgoodsmadefromthesematerials,notincluded inotherclasses;17:Rubber,gutta-percha,gum,asbestos,micaandgoodsmadefromthesematerialsandnotincluded inotherclasses;packing, stoppingandinsulatingmaterials;18:Leatherandimitations ofleather,andgoodsmadeofthesematerialsandnotincluded inotherclasses;20:Goods (notincluded inotherclasses) ofwood, cork,reed,cane,wicker,horn,bone, ivory,whalebone, shell,amber,mother-of-pearl,meerschaumandsubstitutes forallthesematerials,orofplastics;24:Textilesandtextilegoods, notincluded inotherclasses;31:Grainsandagricultural,horticulturalandforestryproductsnotincluded inotherclasses;36:Financial affairs;monetaryaffairs;37:Repair;40:Treatmentofmaterials;41:Sportingandculturalactivities;42:Scientificandtechnologicalservices andresearchanddesignrelatingthereto;44:Agriculture,horticultureandforestryservices;45:Personalandsocialservicesrenderedbyotherstomeettheneedsofindividuals.

Unacceptableclassheadings[NCL(10-2014)]

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Class Unacceptableindications Examplesofacceptableindications

6 Goodsofcommonmetalnotincluded inotherclasses;

Pipes ofmetal;metalmaterialsforbuilding orconstruction;metaljoinery fittings;safes;hardwareofmetal,small;prefabricatedbuilding assembly kitsofmetal;reservoirsofmetal;industrialpackagingcontainersofmetal;

7 Machinesandmachinetools; Metalworkingmachines andtools;constructionmachinesandapparatus;textilemachinesandapparatus;foodorbeverageprocessingmachines andapparatus;printingorbookbinding machines andapparatus;agriculturalmachinesandimplements;packagingorwrappingmachinesandapparatus;

9 Scientific, nautical,surveying,photographic, cinematographic,optical,weighing,measuring, signaling, checking(supervision), life-savingandteachingapparatusandinstruments;

Apparatusandinstruments forscientific researchinlaboratories;nautical,surveying, photographic,cinematographic,optical,andweighingapparatusandinstruments;measuringapparatus;luminous ormechanicalsignals;electricmonitoring apparatus;life-saving apparatusandequipment;teachingapparatus;

16 Paper,cardboardandgoodsmadefromthesematerials,notincluded inotherclasses

Paper,boxesofpaper,tableclothsofpaper,tablenapkins ofpaper,cardboardandcardboardarticles;

42 Scientificandtechnologicalservices andresearchanddesignrelatingthereto;

Scientificandtechnologicalresearchanddevelopment;computersoftwaredesign;industrial design;

Examples:

*PleaserefertotheJPO’s websiteforalternativeindications forotherclasses.http://www.jpo.go.jp/torikumi_e/t_torikumi_e/japan_under_the_madrid_protocol.htm

NCL(10-2014)


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Unacceptableindicationsrelatingtoretail/wholesaleservices(Class35)l“Retailservices”,“Retailstoreservices”or“Retailservicesorwholesaleservicesforallgoods”à Theseareconsideredtobetoovague.Goodswhicharesubjecttoretailorwholesaleservicesmustbespecified.e.g. “Retailservicesforcosmetics”

l“Thebringingtogether,forthebenefitofothers,ofavarietyofgoods(excludingthetransportthereof),enablingcustomerstoconvenientlyviewandpurchasethosegoods”àItisnotclearwhethertheservicedescribedaboveisservicetosupportothers’businesses;orretailservicesorwholesaleservices.

<Suggestionsforamendingandlimitingtheindication>“Thebringingtogether,forthebenefitofothers,ofavarietyofgoods(excludingthetransportthereof),enablingcustomerstoconvenientlyviewandpurchasethosegoods(otherthanretailorwholesaleservices)”or“Retailorwholesaleservicesfor[specifiedgoods]”


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Toolstofindacceptableindicationsofgoods/services

lListofGoodsandServicesatIndustrialPropertyDigitalLibrary(IPDL)

JPOwebsite:https://www2.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/SH1/sh1e_search.cgi?TYPE=000&sTime=1452059646885

Thedatabaseincludes:- IndicationsofgoodsandserviceslistedintheJapaneseMinisterialOrdinance- IndicationsintheNiceAlphabeticalList- IndicationsontheIDList- Indicationsacceptedinpastexaminations

lMadridGoods&ServicesManager(MGS)



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(2)Similaritytopriorregisteredtrademarks(Article4(1)(xi))

4.JPOExaminationPractices(2)Similarity

Keyfactorsfordeterminingsimilarity:

pSimilarityofMarksVisual,auralandconceptualsimilaritiesofthemarksareallconsideredtogether.Otherfactorssuchastargetmarket/consumersforthedesignatedgoodsorservices,stateofcommercialtransactionsforthedesignatedgoodsorservices,andlevelofconsumers'awarenessaretakenintoconsideration.

pSimilarityofGoods/ServicesWhetherthegoods/servicesaresimilarintermsofproductionstage,stageofsales,materialsandquality,intendedpurpose,targetedconsumers,andrelationshipbetweenfinished-productsandpartsaretakenintoconsideration.*JPOexaminersuseSimilarGroupCodes toensureconsistent&efficientexamination.

24C01SportingEquipment

Class6 Class25

Class9

Class19

Class27

Class28

Divingboardsofmetal

Protectivehelmetsforsports

Divingboards,notofmetal

Skiboots, Gymnasticshoes,Golfshoes

Gymnasticmats

Skigear,Weightliftingequipment

Similar

WhatareSimilarGroupCodes?Similargroupcodespresumesimilarityofgoodsandservices andareusedaskeys forsearchingprior trademarks.Theyensureconsistencyindetermining similarityofgoodsandservicesduring theexaminationprocess;anddegreeofpredictabilityforapplicantsandholders.

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ExaminationGuidelineforsimilargoodsandservices

http://www.jpo.go.jp/english/obtainment/rights/trademark/index.html 17

InternationalClassificationofGoodsandServicesAlphabeticalListinJapaneseTranslationwithSimilarGroupCode

Class9

Class9


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(3)IntentiontoUse(mainparagraph,Article3(1))

4.JPOExaminationPractices(3)IntentiontoUse

l Itisnotnecessaryforthetrademarktobeinactualusewhenapplicantsfileapplications.

l JapaneseTrademarkActisbasedon“registration”ratherthan“use”.l However,whenitisreasonablyquestionablewhethertheholders

currentlyuseorwillusethetrademarkforthedesignatedgoods/services,JPOexaminerssendprovisionalrefusalstoconfirmtheholder’suseoforintenttousethetrademark.

Forexample:• Scopeofthedesignatedgoods/services istoobroad• Naturalpersondesignating“retailandwholesaleservicesforclothing, foods,

household itemsdealinginallgoods together”• Designatedserviceislimitedtoonly thosequalified toprovidesuchservices

(eg.privatecompaniesdesignating“legalservices”thatonlyqualified lawyerscanprovide.)

l Inordertoresolvegroundsforrefusal,holdersneedstosubmitevidenceofproofshowingtheiractualuseortheirintenttouse;orlimitthescopeofthedesignatedgoods/services.

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Thescopeofthedesignatedgoods/services isconsidered tobetoobroadinJPO’sexaminationpracticewhen:

ütheholderdesignatesgoodsorservicescoveredbyeightormoresimilargroupcodeswithinoneclass

e.g.à Seethenextslide.

ütwoormorekindsofretail/wholesaleservicesaredesignatede.g.

•“Retailservicesforclothing”, “Retailservicesforfootwear”,“Retailservicesforbagsandpouches”à considered tobeinthesametypeofretailservices(35K02)•“Retailservicesorwholesaleservicesforautomobiles”, “Retailservicesforcosmetics”à consideredthattwodifferenttypesofretailservicesaredesignated (Similargroupcodesare“35K04”and“35K10”respectively.)


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Anexampleofacaseinwhichtheholderdesignatesgoodscoveredbyeightormoresimilargroupcodeswithinoneclass

Grouping SimilarGroupCode

Lifesavingapparatus 09G01

Apparatusforlaboratoryuse 10A01

Optical/Photographicapparatus 10B01

Measuring/testingapparatus 10C01

Electricwiresandcables 11A05

Telecommunicationapparatus 11B01

Electronicapparatus 11C01

Spectacles 23B01

Sportingequipment 24C01

Class 9

Fireescapes

Lifejackets

Laboratorycentrifuges

Ovensforlaboratoryuse

Cameras [photography]

Microscopes

Opticallenses

Pressureindicators

Scales

Cables,electric

Connections forelectriclines

DVDplayers

Headphones

Telephoneapparatus

Computers

Computer software

Integratedcircuits

Eyeglasses

Sunglasses

Protectivehelmetsforsports


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Holdersmayrespondtogroundsbyanyofthefollowingways:(a)Providingdocuments*inordertoprovethattheyarecurrentlyconductingbusinessinJapan inconnectionwiththegoods/services.*newspaperarticles,catalogs,businessdocumentsetc.

(b)Providingdocumentsshowingthattheyareplanningtoconductbusinessinconnectionwiththegoods/servicesinJapan withinthreetofouryearsfromthedateoftheinternationalregistrationorthesubsequentdesignation:

(i)ADeclarationofIntentiontoUsestatingtheexpecteddatewhenthegoods/servicesusing thetrademarkwillbelaunchedinJapan;and(ii)Documentsstatingthecurrentstateandscheduleoftheirbusinessplan;or

(c)Limitingthegoods/servicestoareasonablerange.[ItemVIoftheprovisionalrefusalcanbehelpful.]


SeeVI.SuggestionsforAmendment/Limitation

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4.JPOExaminationPractices - Suggestionsforamendment

• Filingrequeststolimittheindicationsofdesignatedgoodsandservices(OfficialFormMM6)

• Limitationcanberequestedatanytime,i.e.,anytimewhilethecaseisbeforetheJPOinordertoresolvegroundsforrefusal.

• LimitationscanberequestedbyholdersortheirrepresentativesforInternationalRegistrations.

q ProcedureforWIPO

q ProcedurefortheJPO• Submittingamendmentsoropinionsinwritingwithin3monthsfrom

thedateonwhichthenoticeofprovisionalrefusalwassent(extendablebyanother1monthuponrequest)

• AmendmentsoropinionscanbesubmittedonlythoughrepresentativesdomiciledinJapan.

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5.ProcedurestorespondtoProvisionalRefusals

Holdersmayrespondtoprovisionalrefusalsby:

*Communication betweenaholderorrepresentativeforIRsandarepresentativeinJapanisimportant.

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6.AfterreceivingaGrantofProtection

Aletterof“Decisiontograntaregistration”issenttotheholderorarepresentativedomiciledinJapan(ifany)fromJPO.

“Statementofgrantofprotection”and“Notificationofsecondpartofindividualfee”aresenttotheholderorarepresentativeofinternationalregistration(ifany)throughIB.

Paymentduedate

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u PaymentofSecondPartofIndividualFee (Rule34(3))

l Secondpartofindividualfee:328(CHF)foreachclass*FirstPart:99(CHF)foroneclassplus× 75(CHF)foreachadditionalclass

l PaymenttoWIPO

l Within3months fromthedateonwhichthestatementofgrantofprotectionissent.Ifthesecondpartofindividualfeeis notpaidwithinthedeadline,theinternationalregistrationwillbecancelledwithrespecttoJapan.

*ThenewRule5bis“ContinuedProcessing”willtakeeffectonJan.1,2015,wherebyanapplicantorholderwhofailedtocomplywithatimelimitmaysubmitarequesttoIBforcontinuedprocessing.

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uCertificateofTrademarkRegistrationCertificateoftrademarkregistrationwillbeissuedandsentdirectlytotheholderorarepresentativedomiciledinJapan(ifany) afterthetrademarkhasbeenregisteredatJPO.


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FormalityCheck

Opposition

Publicationofapplication

SupremeCourt

2months

DecisionofRegistration

SubstantiveExamination

TrademarkApplication

RegistrationInvalidationtrial

CancellationtrialAppealagainst

DecisionofRefusal

IPHighCourt

DecisionofRefusal

NotificationofReasonsforRefusal

3months

RegistrationFeePayment

DecisionofCancelDecisionofmaintain

Publicationoftrademarkgazette

7.Opposition,AppealsandTrials

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Article44(1)oftheTrademarkActApplicantswhoreceiveexaminers’decisionsstatingthattheirapplicationsare

toberefusedandwhoaredissatisfiedwiththesedecisionsmayrequesttohavetrialstoreversetheexaminers’decisionsofrefusalwithin3monthsfromthedateonwhichtheywereservedtheexaminers’decisions.

• UndertheTrademarkActofJapan,theapplicantswhoarenotsatisfiedwithexaminers’decisionsofrefusalfortheirtrademarks,arenotallowedtoimmediatelyfilelawsuitsincourts.Instead,theJPOestablishedasystemofexpartere-examinationproceedingsinordertoreviewandmakedecisionsonthevalidityofexaminationsconductedbyexaminers.

• ApanelofAdministrativeJudges,afterconductingex-officiosearches,willconducttrialstoreviewanddecideonthevalidityofexaminers’decisionsofrefusal.

Demandantoftrial

Dissatisfactionwithexaminer’sdecision

Reviewthevalidityofexaminer ’sdecisionofrefusal

PanelofAdministrative

Judges

7-1.AppealsagainstExaminers’DecisionsofRefusal

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Whoconductsexaminations? Panel

Medeofexaminations Examinationbydocumentaryproceeding inprinciple

Participation Participationforthepurpose ofassistingtrademarkrightholders

Ex-officioexamination

1) Reasonsforwhichanappealisnotmadebytheopponentmaybeexamined

2) Goodsorservicesforwhichanopposition isnotmademaynotbeexamined

Opportunity forcounterargumentfortrademarkrightholders

Submission ofwrittenopinions inresponse toanoticeofreasonsforrescission

Decision Decisionofrescissionormaintenanceofregistration

Action

1) TrademarkrightholdermaytakeanactionbeforetheIntellectualPropertyHighCourtforrescissionofthedecisionofrescission.

2) Opponent isnotabletotakeanactionagainstthedecisionofmaintenance.

7-2.Oppositionstotrademarkregistration

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Registration

PublicationofGazettecontainingthetrademark

Oppositiontotrademarkregistration

Examination

Noticeofreasonsforrevocation

Writtenopinion

Examination

Decisiononopposition

Decisionofmaintenance Decisionofrevocation

IntellectualPropertyHighCourt

SupremeCourt

（1）

（2）

（3）

（４）

（5）

（6）

7-2.Oppositionstotrademarkregistration

post-grantoppositions

Thankyouforyourattention!

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p JPOwebsite:http://www.jpo.go.jp/index.htmp InformationforHoldersofInternationalRegistrationsseekingExtensionofProtectiontoJapanundertheMadridProtocol:http://www.jpo.go.jp/torikumi_e/t_torikumi_e/japan_under_the_madrid_protocol.htm

pFAQs >MadridProtocol:http://www.jpo.go.jp/english/faqs/madrid.html

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