Uiro of Ise

  • 2023年07月12日

#trademark

“Uiro” is a Japanese confectionery that I want to eat regularly. It is also famous as a Nagoya specialty, and one of our long-time customers, Toraya Uiro Co., Ltd. specializes in raw Uiro in Ise City, Mie Prefecture. Unlike Nagoya Uiro, which is generally made of rice flour, Toraya Uiro is made of wheat flour.
It is easy to stop by as there are stores in department stores in Nagoya, and the “Raw Uiro” which does not use preservatives is beautifully arranged in the showcase and looks delicious to look at.
This time, I chose “Tanabata Uiro,” which is only available in summer.
It is a black Uiro that looks like the night sky and is sprinkled with chestnuts like stars, and as I love brown sugar Uiro the most, I couldn’t get enough. The Uiro was pleasantly sticky and very delicious.

Toraya Uiro Tanabata Uiro

The registered trademark that we helped to obtain is the tiger mark (Japanese registration number 3058956) used on the packaging and the tiger mark with “ya” (Japanese registration number 4149016) used on the handbag. The trademark registered more than 25 years ago is still in use and continues to support the store.

Toraya Uiro Toraya Uiro

Toraya Uiro celebrated its 100th anniversary in March this year, and will continue to make delicious Uiro for the next 100 years.

Toraya Uiro celebrated its 100th anniversary

By the way, we also recommend the Kotorayaki in the shape of the Toraya logo. It is cute and delicious.

Toraya Uiro Kotorayaki

https://www.torayauiro.com/

Food Loss Prevention “Moonlight” with a reason

  • 2023年07月05日

#trademark

The “Morinaga Biscuit” series by Morinaga Seika Co., Ltd. is a biscuit that has been popular for many years.
Among them, “Moonlight” has a sweet and slightly moist texture, and is a particular favorite of mine, so I sometimes like to buy it.
It goes well with tea or milk.

Morinaga Biscuit Moonlight

A check on J-PlatPat shows that it was registered on June 30, 1983, 40 years back from this year (2023), which gives a sense of its long history.
Almost 40 years after the registration date, on June 28, 2023, a product called “Moonlight with a reason” was put on the market.
The product is filled with “moonlight” that has been broken or chipped during the manufacturing process in order to reduce food loss, and the content is about three times larger than the normal amount.
I welcome this kind of initiative because I always break it when I eat it and the content volume is large.
The product will be sold through a mail order site, but I hope that it will also be available at supermarkets and convenience stores. (Time)

Registered trademark “Moonlight”
Japanese Registration number: No. 1596290
Registration date: June 30, 1983
URL:https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1800/TR/JP-1979-060552/F1A61BF7B3F991657F142A0E7BA6AD413BCEA8E2519E3C59BD7A88B734029160/40/ja

Biore Sound Trademark and Design

  • 2023年06月28日

#design #trademark

 Biore has a sound trademark. The designated products are soaps and cosmetics.
 Biore is a face and body care brand of Kao Corporation.

Biore Sound Trademark

 Related products of the Bioré brand include body wash, foam hand soap, and skin care products.
 I recently purchased Biore-u’s paw pad-shaped foaming hand soap. Unlike the regular pump dispenser, which dispenses bubbles horizontally from a single opening, the paw pad type hand soap has a pump dispenser that dispenses bubbles vertically upward from several openings. The shape of the pump dispenser was so striking and eccentric that it was registered as a design.

 In the past, when using foam hand soap, one used both hands to wash one’s hands, pushing the pump with the right hand and picking up the foam hand soap with the left hand. However, with the paw pad-type foam hand soap, I can pick up the foam hand soap with one hand and wash my hands with it. It is very convenient, and I think it is good not only in terms of functionality but also in terms of hygiene.

Biore-u's paw pad-shaped foaming hand soap Biore-u's paw pad-shaped foaming hand soap

 I thought it was a product for which not only the character trademark but also the sound trademark and the design were protected and utilized in a multifaceted way to further enhance the brand power and protect and utilize intellectual property. (Raspberry)

Japanese Sound Trademark Registration number : No. 5805052|J-PlatPat
Japanese Design Registration number : No. 1710004|J-PlatPat

INTA2023 in Singapore

  • 2023年06月21日

#intellectual property #trademark

 I participated in INTA2023 held in Singapore from May 16 to 20. INTA2023 is the annual meeting of INTA (International Trademark Association), where many trademark attorneys, patent attorneys, and other IP professionals gather from all over the world. This year, more than 3,700 companies from around the world gathered for the event. This year, more than 8,000 people from over 3,700 companies and organizations registered to attend.

Singapore INTA2023

 The venue was the Sands Expo & Convention Center. The exhibition hall on the first floor was very spacious, and many companies and organizations exhibited booths, including companies and IP firms that provide IP-related tools from various countries. During the exhibition, I had meetings with local representatives of various countries with whom I have daily business relationships, and also interacted with IP professionals from various countries whom I met both inside and outside the venue. Interaction with IP professionals whom I got to know by being approached during breaks and by talking to them was an experience that I was able to have only because I participated in the real event.

INTA2023 INTA2023

 Singapore is famous for the Merlion! So after the meeting, we stopped by Merlion Park. The actual Merlion was just as I had imagined, neither too big nor too small, and in both color and shape. It was a new discovery that there was a mini Merlion behind the Merlion.

Merlion mini Merlion

 During my business trip, most of the people I saw at the airport and in town, and those I interacted with inside and outside the venue, were not wearing masks, and I was honestly perplexed by the difference from the situation in Japan before my departure. But at the same time, I remembered the situation that was normal and usual before the Corona disaster. I believe that in the future there will be more real exchanges in Japan and economic activities in various industries will become more active. As one of patent attorneys, I will continue to engage in activities that will lead to the boosting of the intellectual property industry and industrial circles. (Hiro)

Drive to Hokuriku

  • 2023年06月16日

#trademark

This is Swimmer.
When I went for a drive the other day, I found this signboard at a service area on the Hokuriku Highway.

Hokuriku Expressway Dou-Raku

If you look closely, you will see a small sign that says Registered Trademark.
I immediately searched for it on the JPO Information Platform and sure enough, there it was.
The owner of the “Hokuriku Expressway Dou-Raku” trademark is Central Nippon Expressway Company Limited, and the Japanese Trademark registration number is No. 5434280.
Among the three designated products are printed materials, and I found an information magazine with the same name at a store in the service area, so I took one home with me.
The contents are quite worthwhile, including traffic information, history of tourist attractions near the road, and gourmet food information.
It is important to contribute to the development of the surrounding area in this way.

the coast of Hokuriku

Behind the service area was the coast of Hokuriku with a very nice view of the Sea of Japan.

Hokuriku Doraku(J-PlatPat)
https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1800/TR/JP-2011-018496/FF08C77B2B9232EA38A77560F9A324A9C0C008F3F99EE2577553D482CD6ED19F/40/en

Nago-Nyan

  • 2023年06月07日

#trademark

The other day, I found “Nagoyan” sold in bulk at a convenience store.
“Nagoyan” is a Japanese confectionery produced and sold by Shikishima Baking Co. It has long been loved as Nagoya’s famous confectionery because of its soft sweetness and moist texture.

It is not uncommon to find them sold at convenience stores and supermarkets, but upon closer inspection, they are labeled “Nago-Nyan”. Nago…nyan?
Since I was so curious, I bought some to try along with “Nagoyan” and “Nama-Nagoyan” (“Nago-Nyan” was sold in some convenience stores in advance).

Nagoyan

Unlike the smooth appearance of “Nagoyan,” “Nago-Nyan” is shaped like a paw, and the yolk bean paste contains white chocolate cream, which is not included in “Nagoyan.
Changing the name of a well-known product slightly is a very interesting idea, as well as attracting more attention. (Syszo)

Nago-Nyan

“Nago-Nyan” has been on sale from June 1 in the Kanto to Kyushu regions.
https://www.pasconet.co.jp/release/1949/ (Japanese only)

“Nagoyan” and “Nama-Nagoyan” are registered trademarks. “Nago-Nyan” is a pending trademark registration.

Nagoyan (public gazette)
https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1800/TR/JP-2000-110921/AB1CC1E929A0482E7F4F84C55BD38FA4A96910E21641D91C785356518457BE83/40/ja
Nama-Nagoyan (public gazette)
https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1800/TR/JP-2020-016451/35B80F48ED38733ABD7198B5BD9713ACB7223990032D8A76BD0AF34DBA31F355/40/ja
Nago-Nyan (public gazette)
https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1800/TR/JP-2023-016361/3296718F6A9701BD7F9BF42E60DEE780CC78CDF17D94E47269F9E70954C4C10A/40/ja

Discovery of Client Products

  • 2023年05月29日

#intellectual property #trademark

Last week, I went to a large hospital near my workplace for my company’s regular medical checkup. My least favorite part of the checkup is the blood draw. I didn’t want to see the needle being inserted or the blood being drawn, so I distracted myself by looking at the box on the table. The box contained antiseptic cotton for use prior to needle insertion. I looked carefully at the lid of the box and saw that it was a product called ” Alwety ” made by Osaki Medical Co., Ltd.

Osaki

Osaki Medical Co., Ltd. manufactures and sells many products for medical and nursing care, and its products are spread not only in Japan but also in other countries.
Our firm assists in applying for trademark registration of product names and logos. They have an intellectual property department that is getting a lot of attention on TV, and we hope that they will continue to develop products that will benefit the world. (Rabbit)

Osaki Medical Co., Ltd. Website
https://www.osakimedical.co.jp/en/
Alwety Product List
https://www.osakimedical.co.jp/products/csm002_005/
Alwety Public Gazette
https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1800/TR/JP-2002-099430/71176628B80000F0995BB36A0268F1A8EE61E4D09020C19E207F14D4754953D5/40/en

Potato Bag

  • 2023年05月24日

#trademark

 ”Potato Bag” and “Jagarico Bake-Tsutsi ” are kits for growing potatoes on balconies and other places with only watering, and are sold at home centers. The products are a mixture of fertilizer and soil for growing potatoes, but the appearance of the products has a strong impact, and I feel that Calbee’s brand power is well utilized.
 Our family purchased the potato bags. They also sold “Poroshiri” seed potatoes, but we were told that regular potatoes would also work, so we are growing potatoes that have sprouted as seed potatoes.
 I am looking forward to eating the delicious potatoes I grew myself in a little while! (Marron)

Potato Bag

 ”Potato Bag” is a trademark of Calbee Potato Co. and “Jagarico” is a trademark of Calbee Co. “Poroshiri” is also registered as a variety by Calbee Potato Co.
(Reference URL)https://www.calbee.co.jp/newsrelease/221215.php

Flowers and Dumplings

  • 2023年05月10日

#trademark

In April, I visited the cherry blossom festival in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture.

cherry blossom festival in Okazaki

I had been to Okazaki several times before, but this time the area around Okazaki Castle was full of tourists and more lively than usual, probably due to the influence of the historical drama “What Will You Do, Ieyasu? “.

Although it had been a few days since the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, it was beautiful to see them while walking along the wide Oto River.

cherry blossom festival in Okazaki

On the way back from Okazaki, we stopped by the main store of the long-established confectioner “Bizen store”.
I bought several sweets including “Tefukin no shirabe,” a favorite of mine since childhood, and headed home with a smile on my face.
It was a very satisfying day of cherry blossom viewing and eating delicious sweets.

Tefukin no shirabe

The trademark “Tefukin no shirabe” was registered on November 7, 1997 for the designated goods “confectionery and a bread” (Japanese registration No. 3356611).

According to J-platpat, the oldest registered trademark currently held by Bizen store, a general partnership, is “Kodai Aoi” (Japanese Registration No. 259544), which was registered in 1934.
I can feel the history of the brand, which has been carefully protected from 1934 to the present. Next, I would like to try the “Kodai Aoi Mochi” which uses this trademark.
(Sakuramochi)

Work of “Intellectual Property”

  • 2023年04月26日

#design #intellectual property #patent #trademark #utility model

The TV Drama series “Isn’t that Plagiarism?” has started!
I have been looking forward to the drama even more after reading the original novel. I am writing this article after the first episode aired, but I am very much looking forward to the future development of the drama as it has been reconstructed for the drama and there are many parts that differ from the original story from the very first episode. I was impressed by the lines “patents are a battle of words” and “the job of intellectual property is to protect the crystallization of someone else’s sweat and tears”.

In the first episode of the drama, the company where the main character works does not yet have an intellectual property department (IP department). How will the activities of the newly established IP department be depicted in the second and subsequent episodes? I think the content will be realistic as it is supervised by a patent attorney, so you will be able to gain knowledge that you can learn while enjoying the drama.

The original story has a subtitle “The Work of a New Intellectual Property Department Employee”.
I think it will help those companies that do not have an IP department but have a development department or a general affairs department that is concurrently in charge of IP. We would like to better understand the role of the IP department at our firm and utilize this information to provide services that are needed by our customers.

Isn't that Plagiarism? Isn't that Plagiarism?

By the way, the JPO also paid attention to this drama and tweeted about it.
It seems that they also cooperated in the filming of the drama, and you can see places that are not usually seen at the JPO. This is also noteworthy♪ (Cacao)

https://www.ntv.co.jp/sorepaku/original/ (Japanese only)
https://shueisha.online/culture/121224 (Japanese only)
http://www.jipa.or.jp/coffeebreak/hitokoto/hito2303.html (Japanese only)
https://twitter.com/jpo_NIPPON/status/1645696954343788545