Monthly Archives: December 2021

Approach to trademark registration – A different perspective of a maverick

  • December 27, 2021
#trademark

Generally, when you develop a new product or service, you will consider various names for the trademark (naming) as to what kind of name you should use.
However, there are some eccentric people who come up with certain names (trademarks) first and then start thinking about what kind of product or service they will provide with it.

Myomanji

The other day, when I went on a trip to Kyoto and looked around the shrines and temples, I met a person who wanted to use the trademark “Kinkakuji” (The Temple of the Golden Pavilion). That person was thinking what kind of product would be profitable or make him/her happy. He/she came up with “Kinkakuji miso”, “Kinkakuji tea”, “Kinkakuji sake” and so on. The person wants to sell products that fit the image of the name and decide on a business that can make profit from trademarks and products.
I think there will be an era in the future for such an approach to trademarks. Let’s start with search and survey. (Rice Ball)

Achilles stick

  • December 22, 2021
#trademark

“Additive-free quality product / Achilles Stick” is a stick-shaped dog food made from turkey tendon, which my dog loves. According to the product description, it has the effects of (1) strengthening chewing ability and protecting health, (2) maintaining health with natural proteins, and (3) having fun chewing to relieve stress. I feed my dog daily, morning and night, mixed with other general nutrition foods and jerky. First, my dog takes Achilles stick and carry it a little further away to secure his space and then enjoys chewing it hard. Because it is made from a natural ingredient, there are variations in size and shape. There is a difference of several times between large and small pieces, and he takes a long time enjoying it especially when it is a large piece.

Achilles stick

The product was renewed around the fall of this year in 2021, and the package logo was changed from the original “Additive-free quality product / Achilles stick” to “Additive-free quality product / Achilles stick + (plus))”. Prior to that, the seller, DoggyMan H. A. Co., Ltd. filed an application for trademark registration of the standard character “アキレススティック(Achilles Stick)” (the designated goods are pet food and feed) in addition to the original graphic character trademark (Japanese trademark registration No. 5147261). It was registered after responding to the notice of reasons for refusal (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 6285888, registered on August 28, 2020). It seems that the examiner has acknowledged that “アキレススティック(Achilles Stick)” is known to consumers and traders as a series of integrated trademarks. (Conan)

Manufacturing method for keeping raw noodles delicious

  • December 15, 2021
#patent

“Maruchan Seimen” by from TOYO SUISAN KAISHA, LTD. is one of my favorite instant noodles because the noodles taste good.

Maruchan Seimen

The package says it employs “the special manufacturing method for keeping raw noodles delicious” and the Japanese patent number was written on the back.

Maruchan Seimen

When I looked it up, this patent has been granted under the accelerated examination scheme. After the patent was granted, NISSIN FOODS HOLDINGS CO., LTD. became the claimant and filed a trial for invalidation for this patent. The claim 1 was accepted as invalid, but appeal for the claims 2 to 10 were not considered invalid so the patent right was vested. In addition, divisional applications based on this case have been filed up to the 4th generation, and all of them have been registered. Furthermore, an international application has been filed as a PCT application with the Japanese application as the basic application.

When I learned that the ramen noodles I ate casually was supported by the technology protected by making full use of the patent system, I felt that it was more delicious than ever. (Marron)

Cashless Payment

  • December 8, 2021
#trademark

How do you usually pay? In cash or use cashless payment?
I made a debut in cashless payment this year and started using it regularly. I’ve used credit cards before, but only for expensive purchases and online shopping.

Cashless payment is not only limited to credit cards, but also various methods such as using a transportation IC card and payments with smartphones. Among them, I mainly use QUICPay.

QUICPay

One of the reasons I chose QuickPay is that I can pay with my smartphone.
It’s easy to set up and you can use it just by registering your credit card information in the Apple Wallet on your iPhone.
For a person like me, who always carries an iPhone, the condition of QUICPay which allows smartphone payments suited me well.

As with QUICPay and other cashless payments, it makes a sound when the payment is completed. For example, when you pass through a ticket gate with a transportation IC card, you will hear a beep. If you use QUICPay in the same way, you will hear “QuickPay” sound.

Every time I use QUICPay I hear it, and because I work on intellectual property industry, I thought, “Maybe its sound trademark application has been filed or even it has been registered”, so I looked it up with J Plat-Pat.
Then, JCB Co., Ltd. filed an application in July of this year. (Japanese trademark application No. 2021-85332)
The article on the trademark title says, “This trademark consists of a structure that you can hear an electronic voice saying “Quick pay”, and the total length of the sound is about 1 second.”.

I would like to continue using cashless payment while thinking that it is a payment method that fit with the times of our generation. (Rabbit)

QUICPayご利用ガイド｜QUICPay (How to use QUICPay (Japanese only))
J-Plat Pat QUICPay Sound Trademark

Radar

  • December 5, 2021
#Inventions of the Day

I would like to introduce an invention that is closely related to today, December 5th. This time, I would like to introduce the air defense radar invented by Sir Robert Alexander Watson Watt (1892.4.13~1973.12.5), a British electronics engineer and inventor. Robert Watson-Watt died 48 years ago today in Inverness, Scotland.

After studying engineering at university, Robert Watson-Watt worked on radio communications for the British Meteorological Office and other organizations. In 1935, as Nazi Germany was on the rise, he proposed an electromagnetic aircraft detection system to the British Air Ministry, which he tested in February, patented in April, and by the end of the year had increased its range to 60 miles (97 km). For this achievement, he was awarded the title of Knight in 1942.
As a result of this technology and air defense radar equipment, the British won the Battle of Britain in 1940. Later, in 1941, he was dispatched to the United States to advise on air defense systems after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Incidentally, there is a theory that Robert Watson-Watt is a descendant of James Watt, who improved the steam engine and sparked the Industrial Revolution (Japanese Wikipedia), but there seems to be no clear evidence (English Wikipedia).

Reference URL
Robert Watson-Watt – Wikipedia

(blink)