Jaguar Land Rover lost an opposition in Japan against the following national trademark application in class 12:
Against this application, the UK company invoked a family of its earlier figurative and combined trademarks in class 12:
According to the company, there was a significant similarity between the signs due not only to the Jaguar image but the first part of the words JAG.
The Japan Patent Office, however, disagreed stating that the trademarks at hand are not confusingly similar for the consumers although they are for identical and similar goods.
According to the Office, the stated reputation of the earlier signs in Japan wasn’t proved enough and cannot play a significant role in the assessment.
Source: Masaki MIKAMI
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PLANET 