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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
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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
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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
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(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.
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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.
5.RecentDevelopmentonNon-traditionalTrademarks inJapan(4)
Inusingthe“J-PlatPat”,itispossibletosearchnon-traditionaltrademarksbytypeoftrademark.*Informationstatedontheapplicationisusedtodeterminethetypeoftrademark.
Pleasemarkthetypeoftrademarkyouwanttosearch!
5.RecentDevelopmentonNon-traditionalTrademarks inJapan(5)
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
JPY28,200XNo.ofClasses
Article40(1)Article 68-30(1)(ii)
Registration RenewalFee(For10years)
JPY48,500XNo.ofClasses
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.
17.ClassificationofGoodsandServices (2)
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.
17.ClassificationofGoodsandServices (3)
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
Registrationnumber:4929181
Ø Anexampleof“Hiragana”Rightholder:KONICAMINOLTA,INC.
Registrationnumber:201722
Ø Anexampleoftwolinedparallelentriesof“Romanletters”and“Katakana”
Rightholder:KracieHoldings,Ltd.
Registrationnumber:5098170
1.CharacteristicsoftheJapaneseLanguage
Anactualexampleinuse(fromNintendo’swebsite)
1.CharacteristicsoftheJapaneseLanguage
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
Registrationnumber:1003781
Internationalregistrationdate:April2,2009 imuraya imurayaØ NationalTrademark
RegistrationNumber:4951092
Dateofapplication:June20,2005
Ø NationalTrademark
RegistrationNumber:1444107
Dateofapplication:January10,1974
Ø Trademarkfiledforinternationalregistration
RegistrationNumber:1104160
Internationalregistrationdate:December1,2011
Ø BasicTrademark
RegistrationNumber:5472209
Dateofapplication:August24,2011
Ø NationalTrademark
RegistrationNumber:4890856
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.
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