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Taylor Swift and Trademark Registration — A New Defense Strategy in the AI Era

  • May 27, 2026
#trademark

Popular American singer Taylor Swift has made headlines by filing an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to trademark her voice (HEY, IT’S TAYLOR SWIFT.) and her “live images.”

Recent advances in AI technology have been remarkable, making it possible to mimic the voices and faces of celebrities with astonishing precision. The internet is flooded with advertisements and deepfake images that exploit these technologies to promote investments, creating a serious social problem.

Until now, the concept of “right of publicity” has been discussed as a means to protect the names and likenesses of celebrities. While this right protects the economic value associated with an individual’s name and likeness, its scope and criteria for application vary and remain ambiguous across countries and states. In particular, legal debates continue regarding the extent to which this right can be enforced against “AI-generated content.”

Furthermore, while the “Copyright Act” can protect specific songs or photographs, it has limitations in regulating things like “voices that merely resemble the person (AI-generated voices).”

Therefore, Taylor adopted a strategy to register her iconic phrases and live performance images as “trademarks.” Under trademark law, the subject of the rights is clear, and the scope of regulation extends broadly to include not only ‘identical’ but also “similar” items. By securing trademark rights in advance, the aim is likely to ensure stronger and more direct legal recourse against unauthorized use by AI.

“Sound trademarks” have been recognized in Japan since 2015. In the future, we may see an increase in cases where celebrities in Japan—whose voices are distinctive enough to be instantly recognizable—choose “trademark registration” as a new form of brand protection, in addition to their right of publicity. (Chamomile)

Trademark search　(HEY, IT’S TAYLOR SWIFT.)
Trademark search (live image)

Maruchan Seimen Soy Sauce Flavor

  • May 20, 2026
#patent

I’m Swimmer.
I sometimes get an uncontrollable craving for instant ramen, and since I saw a sale on it at a nearby supermarket, I bought a 5-pack.

Maruchan Seimen Soy Sauce Flavor

I’d known about this product for a while, but this was my first time trying it.
Even though they’re dry noodles, they were fully cooked and separated in just 3 minutes, with a nice firm texture—I finished the whole bowl in no time.

Maruchan Seimen Soy Sauce Flavor

On the back of the bag, above the cooking instructions, there’s a patent number listed. I immediately looked it up on J-PlatPat, where I found descriptions of the problems to be solved in instant ramen and the methods used to address them.
I found it quite interesting and decided to try a different flavor next time.

Maruchan Seimen Soy Sauce Flavor

Dried Noodles and Method for Producing the Same
https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1801/PU/JP-2012-002540/19/en

The Decline of Blu-ray and What Lies Ahead

  • April 21, 2026
#trademark

As we entered 2026, announcements regarding the discontinuation of Blu-ray drive sales began to pour in from various companies.

Notice Regarding the Discontinuation of Blu-ray Drive Sales | Buffalo (Japanese only)
Announcement of end of our external Blu-ray drive sale | ELECOM CO., LTD. ELECOM
Notice Regarding the Discontinuation of External Blu-ray Drive Sales and Support – Logitec INA Solutions Co., Ltd. (Japanese only)

Regarding recorders, TVS REGZA and Sony have made similar announcements, and Pioneer has already withdrawn from the optical disc business.

Blu-ray

The Blu-ray Disc standard was announced in 2002. The terms “Blu-ray,” “BLU-RAY DISC,” and related logos were trademarked by the Blu-ray Disc Association as early as 2001. The year 2006, when consumer products first appeared, was dubbed the “Year One of Blu-ray.”

Blu-ray
*Image courtesy of J-PlatPat

While I feel there are still situations where Blu-ray is needed, the fact that it is heading toward its end without a complete generational shift from DVD seems to be due to the spread of video streaming services and the rise of HDDs, SSDs, and cloud storage as the mainstream storage methods, leading to a decline in demand for Blu-ray, which is at a disadvantage in terms of capacity and cost.
I sometimes purchase Blu-ray discs for video content I want to keep on hand. There used to be a sense of joy in owning them, but it seems there are quite a few users who rarely have the opportunity to use them.

On the other hand, I-O Data and Verbatim Japan have announced plans to continue supplying Blu-ray drives and discs.

Regarding the Provision of Blu-ray Drive and Disc Products by I-O Data and Verbatim Japan(PDF)

While Blu-ray won’t become unusable anytime soon, if you need to store data long-term or keep backups on hand, you may need to reconsider your storage methods. (Syszo)

An Encounter on a Trip

  • April 15, 2026
#Regional Collective Trademark #trademark

The other day, my family and I went on a trip to Shikoku.Br /> Of the four prefectures—Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, and Kochi—Dogo Onsen in Ehime Prefecture was our main destination.
For dinner, we went to a restaurant serving Setouchi cuisine and tried some local specialties. Among them, the one I particularly liked was “Uwajima Jakoten.”
The Jakoten, served lightly grilled, had a rich flavor that went perfectly with our drinks.
*“Uwajima Jakoten” (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 5083713) and “Dogo Onsen” (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 5071495 and 5435121) are registered as regional collective trademarks.

Dogo Onsen

I’m looking forward to seeing what trademarks I’ll encounter on my next trip! ♪ (Rabbit)

A Collaboration Between Hasegawa Buddhist Altars and Noritake

  • April 1, 2026
#trademark

　The other day, I purchased an incense burner and an offering cup at the “Hasegawa Buddhist Altars” store located in a shopping mall. They are made of Noritake bone china, and when I looked at the back, I saw the logos of both Hasegawa and Noritake.

お仏壇のはせがわとノリタケのコラボレーション

お仏壇のはせがわとノリタケのコラボレーション

　The design next to the “Hasegawa” text (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 5557659) and the Noritake logo are both registered trademarks. While Noritake has several registered logos, the oldest one was registered in 1963! (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 631574)

　We don’t have a Buddhist altar at home, but I really love this Noritake cup. It blends well with our interior decor, and despite its small size, it’s just as beautiful as a standard-sized cup. It allows me to easily place an offering and pray, so I’m very fond of it.

　At Hasegawa, in response to changing lifestyles, they offer a variety of products designed to make “moments of prayer” more accessible. In addition to Noritake Buddhist altar ware, these include living room altars created in collaboration with “Karimoku Furniture” in Kariya City, Aichi Prefecture, and the “Oshidan” (fave altar), where you can enshrine your fave. The “Oshidan” was apparently conceived by a company employee, is trademarked (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 6776045), and was even available at the store I visited. (Marron)

　Oshidan https://www.hasegawa.jp/blogs/corp/worldshopping-guide-hasegawa-co-ltd

Peach Castella

  • March 26, 2026
#collective trademark #trademark

I recently went on a trip to Nagasaki Prefecture.
One thing I absolutely wanted to buy in Nagasaki was “Peach Castella.”

Peach Castella

It’s a very cute treat featuring a fluffy castella sponge cake and sugar decorations shaped like a peach.
In Nagasaki, it’s apparently given as a gift for various celebrations, including the Doll’s Festival.
Perhaps because March is a month full of celebrations, I saw it being sold at various confectionery shops throughout the city.

For example, the Peach Castella shown above is from a shop called “Hakusuido.”
Peach Castella | Hakusuido Official Online Shop

Peach Castella


This one is from a shop called “Mangetsudo.”
Mangetsudo
(I’m sorry for using a pamphlet—it lost its shape after I carried it around for a long time.)

Peach Castella

Even though they’re all peach castella, each shop has its own unique style.
Since many other confectionery shops also sell their own versions of peach castella, I’d love to try them all someday.

The trademark “Peach Castella” is a “collective trademark” (*) owned by the Nagasaki Prefecture Confectionery Industry Association (Japanese Trademark Registration No.: 5151942; Designated Goods: Class 30 “Castella shaped like a peach, Castella”; Registration Date: July 18, 2008).

You can really feel the Nagasaki Prefecture Confectionery Industry Association’s desire to protect Peach Castella as a signature confection and further boost its popularity.

*If you’d like to learn more about “collective trademarks,” please refer to the “Regional Collective Trademark System” section on the Japan Patent Office website below.
https://www.jpo.go.jp/e/system/trademark/gaiyo/chidan/index.html

(Sakuramochi)

Tireless Socks

  • March 18, 2026
#patent #trademark

I would like to introduce patented products that we often see without giving them a second thought.
This time, I will be introducing “Tireless Socks.”

Tireless Socks are socks that utilize patented technology from Nishigaki Socks Co., Ltd. (Yamatokada City, Nara Prefecture), which was also featured in the Japan Patent Office’s newsletter “Tokkyo” Vol. 65. Attracted by the colorful design, I decided to order a pair to try them out.

Tireless Socks　Tireless Socks

According to the website, these are “high-performance socks that reduce fatigue through a special taping knit, non-slip woven grips, and cushioned knitting on the sole.” While the product packaging only mentions cushion knitting as a patented technology, it appears that grip knitting is also a patented feature.

Tireless Socks

When I tried them on, the cushioning under the arch felt very firm. Essentially, it feels like the type of insole you’d place inside your shoe is attached to the sock itself. Also, even though there isn’t any obvious anti-slip material visible at first glance, they were surprisingly slip-resistant, making them easy to walk in and comfortable.

These days, you can buy a wide variety of functional socks at local home improvement stores and workwear specialty shops. Even something as simple as the way a sock is knitted has a lot of depth to it. I really feel the power of the inventions and ingenuity that drive the world forward, and it gives me a sense of reassurance.

Please note that the used trademark “Tsukare shirazu no Kutsushita (Tireless Socks)” is registered as “Tsukare shirazu no Kutsushita (Tireless Socks).”
(blink)

Grave Demolition Business Model

  • March 11, 2026
#patent #trademark

　“Grave demolition” refers to the process of removing existing graves, clearing the land, and returning it to the land administrator. The exhumed remains are generally reinterred in perpetual care graves or columbariums. In recent years, demand for grave dismantling has increased due to factors such as population concentration in major cities, aging and declining birth rates making it difficult to manage rural cemeteries, and rising rates of lifelong unmarried individuals and declining birth rates leading to a lack of successors to manage graves. Consequently, specialized businesses offer “grave dismantling services” that bundle grave removal, handling administrative procedures for reinterment permits, and arranging reinterment locations. For example, one company operates under the registered trademark “Grave Closure SOS” (Trademark Registration No. 5958751).
https://www.bishoo.co.jp/hakajimai_sos.html

　Another company has patented and registered an invention called the “Remains Consolidation System” (Patent Publication No. 7370611). This system involves, upon the death of the final inheritor, reburying the remains of the final inheritor and specified relatives within a defined scope into a consolidated grave and conducting memorial services for a set period. The patent specification states: “Use of this system incurs necessary operational costs. Regarding these costs, it is conceivable that the administrator could receive the necessary amount from the final inheritor’s estate (inherited property) after their death. However, complications in receiving these costs are also anticipated due to factors like the existence of heirs. Therefore, the optimal approach is for all necessary expenses to be paid at the start of system usage.”
　Grave closure is also a theme I must resolve in my own future life. (Conan)
※ The photo is unrelated to the text.

Grave Demolition

Toga Shrine and Inari Sushi ~Toyokawa City~

  • March 5, 2026
#trademark

In early January, I visited Toga Shrine in Toyokawa City to have my car purified.

Toga Shrine

The shrine grounds still echoed with the lingering atmosphere of the New Year’s first visit, adorned with large zodiac ema plaques wishing for good fortune. I hope to receive this year’s blessings for our firm by taking photos of these auspicious items.

Toga Shrine

The shrine also houses Japan’s largest sazare-ishi (pebbles), and I felt energized by this power stone.

Toga Shrine

Since I was there, I wanted to enjoy Toyokawa’s local cuisine! Toyokawa’s specialty is inari sushi. I wanted to try the stuffed kind, but since they’re sold in the temple town of Toyokawa Inari and close by evening, I unfortunately missed the chance and had to give up.
Incidentally, “Toyokawa Inari Sushi” is a regional collective trademark of the non-profit organization “Everyone’s Toyokawa City Promotion Team”.
Trademark Registration No. 6013646: Toyokawa Inari Sushi (Toyokawa Inari Zushi) | Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan Patent Office
The “Toyokawa Inari Sushi Guidebook” also shows how the branding of Toyokawa inari sushi is being promoted.

In the end, I didn’t get to try the Toyokawa gourmet, but I was able to receive a purification ritual at Toga Shrine, said to be the most prestigious in Mikawa Province. I feel like I got off to a good start this year.

While waiting for the purification ritual, I watched the Nikko Saru Gundan monkey show in the shrine grounds. I laughed a lot and got a lucky monkey handprint souvenir. May this year be one where “misfortune flees”♪ (Cacao)

Nikko Saru Gundan monkey show lucky monkey handprint souvenir

※“Saru Gundan” is a registered trademark of Osaru Land Co., Ltd.

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