• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
+49 (0) 69 / 606 278 – 0
[email protected]
Contact form
Patentanwaltskanzlei

Patentanwaltskanzlei

  • Deutsch

+49 (0) 69 / 606 278 – 0

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • xing
  • Email
MENUMENU
  • Services
    • Advice On Protective IP Rights
    • Patent Application /TM Registration
    • Enforcement Of IP Rights
    • Defence Against IP Rights Enforcement
    • Costs
  • Company
    • Fields of Law
      • Patent Law
      • Utility Model Law
      • Employees‘ Inventions
      • Trademark Law
      • Design Law
      • Trademark and Product Piracy
      • Expert Opinions
    • Our Law Firm
      • Dr. Tim Meyer-Dulheuer
      • Dr. Klaus Zimmermann
      • Zhichao Ying
      • Walter Benjamin Feldheim
    • Commitment
  • Contact
    • Where To Find Us
    • Write us!
    • Request call back
  • Blog

Grand Canyon rejected as word mark in Japan

1. April 2019

The Japanese Board of Appeal refused the registration of the word mark Grand Canyon – while the ECJ allowed the registration of the word mark Neuschwanstein.  The question in both cases was: is a well-known geographical name regarded as an indication of origin?

GRAND CANYON filed as Japanese word mark

Grand CanyonA Japanese textile company applied in 2016 for registration of the word mark „GRAND CANYON“ in respect of clothing, footwear and other goods in Class 25. The JPO follows the International Classification of goods and services, the so-called Nice Classification.

The JPO examiner refused the application in its entirety on the ground of lack of distinctive character on the basis of Article 3.1.iii of the Trade Mark Law. The GRAND CANYON is one of America’s most famous and impressive natural attractions and it is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, therefore its registration has to be refused.

Japanese Trademark Law regards Foreign Geographical Names

The Japanese Trade Mark provides the so called Trade Mark Examination Directive (TEG). In case where the names of goods or services are recognized as a name of goods or services which is commonly used by traders, they are judged as “common names of goods or services.” (Article 3.1).

Where trademarks are composed of a famous geographical name in Japan and overseas, they are considered as “the place of origin” of goods or “the place of their sale” or “the location of provision of services.”(Article 3.1.iii) The criteria for examining trade mark applications in connection with foreign geographical marks include well-known names of states, cities and countries as well as territories and places of interest.

In an appeal decision, the Japanese Patent Office (JPO) upheld the examiner’s decision and rejected the trade mark “GRAND CANYON” in connection with clothing and footwear in Class 25 for lack of distinctive character ( Appeal case no. 2017-16166 ). Since traders and consumers in Japan are familiar with the fact that various souvenirs and gifts are sold at tourist destinations, consumers would presumably regard the mark applied for only as a geographical indication and not as the indication of origin in relation to the goods designated. However, the indication of origin is the essential function of a trade mark, both in Japan and in Europe.

Neuschwanstein confirmed as word mark by ECJ

In a similar trademark dispute over the famous German castle Neuschwanstein, the ECJ decided otherwise in September 2018 (we reported).

There is a general interest in keeping geographical designations free, as the preferences of consumers can be influenced. However, the ECJ ruled that the lock as such was not a place of production of goods or provision of services, so that the challenged trademark could not provide any indication of the geographical origin of the goods and services covered by it.

The ECJ also referred to the argument of the Advocate General (we reported) that the Nice Classification does not know a class of goods or services called “souvenirs”. Precisely because the word mark Neuschwanstein is not descriptive of the goods covered by that sign, it may be registered as a Community trade mark.

Do you have any questions about geographical names or indication of origin?

Our lawyers are experienced in trademark and patent law, national and international law. Please take your chance and contact us.

 

 

 

Sources:

JPO: TET indication of origin

Picture:

balder815 /pixabay.com / CCO License  

 

  • share  
  • share 
  • share 
  • share 
  • share 

Category iconTrademark Law Tag icondistinctiveness,  ECJ,  geographical name,  Indication of origin,  Japan,  JPO,  Lack of distinctive character

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

More articles about: Trademark Law

All articles

Blog Menu

  • Design Law
  • Healthcare & Lifesciences
  • International Intellectual Property
  • Licenses
  • News from our law firm
  • Overall
  • Patent Law
  • Product- and Trademark piracy
  • Trademark Law

Recent Posts

  • What is the public allowed to know? 3. June 2024
  • BPatG: Patent claim of cancer drug on active substance as salt 7. March 2022
  • Grant for European IP Protection: SME Fund 2022 4. March 2022
  • CODE-X vs. Cody’s: Likelihood of confusion in drinks? 25. February 2022

Fields of Law

  • Patent Law
  • Utility Model Law
  • Employees’ Inventions
  • Trademark Law
  • Design Law
  • Trademark and Product Piracy
  • Expert Opinions
  • Costs

Das könnte Sie auch interessieren:

3. June 2024
What is the public allowed to know?

What is the public allowed to know?

4. March 2022
Grant for European IP Protection: SME Fund 2022

Grant for European IP Protection: SME Fund 2022

25. February 2022
CODE-X vs. Cody’s: Likelihood of confusion in drinks?

CODE-X vs. Cody’s: Likelihood of confusion in drinks?

24. February 2022
EOS lip balm no 3D trademark – appeal before ECJ not admissible

EOS lip balm no 3D trademark – appeal before ECJ not admissible

21. February 2022
CFI: Pumpkin seed oil + PGI symbol

CFI: Pumpkin seed oil + PGI symbol

15. February 2022
SPOTIFY v POTIFY – a ‘pot’ app

SPOTIFY v POTIFY – a ‘pot’ app

Contact us or request a call back

+49 (0) 69 / 606 278 – 0
[email protected]
Request a call back

Footer

Contact

Hanauer Landstrasse 287
D – 60314 Frankfurt am Main
Deutschland
+49 (0) 69 / 606 278 – 0
+49 (0) 69 / 606 278 – 199
[email protected]

Office Hours
Moday – Friday:   08:00-18:00

Fields of Law

  • Patent Law
  • Utility Model Law
  • Employees’ Inventions
  • Trademark Law
  • Design Law
  • Trademark and Product Piracy
  • Expert Opinions
  • Costs

Law Firm

  • Request non-binding call back
  • Company
  • Our Law Firm
  • ISO Certificate
  • Privacy Policy
  • Data handling for clients
  • Imprint

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • xing
  • Email

Newsletter Signup

Newsletter INT

© Meyer-Dulheuer MD Legal Patentanwälte PartG

Contact Form

 

Give us a call, send us an email or fill out the contact form.

+49 (0) 69 / 606 278 – 0
[email protected]

Rückruf INT

Please note: If we deal specifically with your individual case, this is what is known as an initial consultation. In accordance with Section 34 of the Rechtsanwaltsvergütungsgesetz, this incurs one-off costs of 190 euros plus MwSt. We will be happy to assist you in a personal consultation after our telephone call.

Kontaktformular

 

Rufen Sie uns an, schicken Sie uns eine Mail oder füllen Sie das Kontaktformular aus.

+49 (0) 69 / 606 278 – 0
[email protected]

Rückruf

Um dieses Angebot nutzen zu können, müssen Sie der Speicherung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten zustimmen. Wir behandeln diese streng vertraulich und verwenden sie nur zur Kontaktaufnahme mit Ihnen. Mehr dazu lesen Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklärung.

Bitte beachten Sie: Wenn wir uns konkret mit Ihrem Einzelfall befassen, ist dies eine sogenannte Erstberatung. Für eine solche entstehen gemäß § 34 Rechtsanwaltsvergütungsgesetz einmalige Kosten in Höhe von 190 Euro plus MwSt. Gerne helfen wir Ihnen im Anschluss an unser Telefonat in einem persönlichen Beratungsgespräch weiter.