Have a Break

- Written by Patent Attorneys, Patent Engineers, Trademark Engineers, Translators, and Administrative staff -

abien HOME DRYER

  • January 15, 2025
#trademark

Happy New Year! Thank you for your continued support.

Although it’s a little bit of a time-travel, I bought a product called the “abien HOME DRYER” from our client, abien Co., Ltd., as a Christmas present for my family last year.

abien HOME DRYER

It’s very stylish, with a shape like an ammonite.
It also has seven modes!

abien HOME DRYER

SPEED mode: Quickly warms bedding and the room, high air volume x medium temperature
DRY mode: Warms bedding thoroughly, medium air volume x medium temperature
MITE mode: Can be used to combat mites that hide in bedding, etc.
WARM mode: Can be used for spot heating, such as under the feet, with low air volume and high air temperature
CIRCULATE mode: Suitable for circulating the air in the room or using a fan, with low air volume and low air temperature
CLOTHING mode: For drying clothes and shoes indoors, with high air volume and high air temperature
PET mode: Can blow air at a frequency and low noise that animals don’t mind, with low air volume and low air temperature

At my house, we mainly use the WARM and CIRCULATE modes.
The WARM mode is very useful in the living room and bathroom in the cold winter, and the airflow is strong and very warm. The CIRCULATE mode is used by installing it under the air conditioner or in a corner of the room to improve the air quality.
We don’t have any pets, so we don’t get to use the PET mode, but we still have four other modes left to try, so we’re looking forward to using them all.

The trademarks “ａｂｉｅｎ　ＨＯＭＥＤＲＹＥＲ (standard characters)” (Japanese Trademark Registration no. 6835200) and “アビエン　ホームドライヤー (standard characters)” (Japanese Trademark Registration no. 6835201) were registered at our firm.
If you are considering registering a trademark or other intellectual property for your company’s products, please contact us. (Rabbit)

Marude Kotatsu

  • January 8, 2025
#patent

　I’ve been curious about Okamoto Corporation’s “Marude Kotatsu” series
and finally bought one this year. There were various types to choose from, but I decided on the “Socks Supplement Marude Kotatsu Ankle Warmer”.

Socks Supplement Marude Kotatsu Ankle Warmer

　When I looked at the back, I saw a patent number (Japanese Patent No. 6043982).

Socks Supplement Marude Kotatsu Ankle Warmer

　Reading the patent bulletin, I found that the invention was characterized by its material and shape, which were designed to stimulate the “acupuncture points” on the ankles with pinpoint accuracy.

Socks Supplement Marude Kotatsu Ankle Warmer

　The oval part with a different color seems to stimulate the acupuncture points. When I tried wearing it, it didn’t get too hot, but I definitely felt like it was warming me up from the inside. I like that it makes it easy to stimulate the acupuncture points and that it can be expected to improve your constitution.

　I want to get through the cold winter by keeping my feet warm. (Marron)

Nagoya’s famous sweets

  • December 25, 2024
#trademark

It’s that time of year when you start to see strawberries in the grocery stores and supermarkets.
When I see strawberries, I get excited thinking “I can eat those again”.

There is a Japanese confectionery that makes me feel that way, and that is “Ichigo Habutae” from Kitagawa Co, which is located in Kita-ku, Nagoya, Aichi prefecture.
As it is only available during the strawberry season, the specific date of its release is announced on the official website every year. I heard that it had gone on sale this year, so I went out and bought some straight away.

Ichigo Habutae

According to the official website (https://www.owarigashi-kitagawa.jp/ichigohabutae) of Kitagawa Co, the strawberry covered in a haubutae blanket from above is the official image.

The fluffy habutae rice cake, the elegant sweetness of the red bean paste filling, and the juicy strawberries are the perfect combination. In particular, the smooth, fluffy texture of the habutae rice cake is has an impact every time.

Another of Kitagawa’s signature sweets is the “Hesokuri Mochi”.
This is a product that is sold all year round, and a kumquat preserved in syrup is hidden inside the soft, fluffy habutae rice cake.

Hesokuri Mochi
I forgot to take a photo of the filling…

Hesokuri Mochi is very popular all over Japan, and it seems to sell like hotcakes at events all over the country.
Hesokuri Mochi is a registered trademark (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 4774453) for “sweets and bread” and other designated products, as of May 28, 2004.

Why not register your important product or service names as trademarks?
For consultations and requests regarding trademark registration, please feel free to contact us here.
Of course, we also welcome individual customers. (Sakuramochi)

STONE ROLLS

  • December 18, 2024
#trademark

The other day, I received a can of mackerel.
It had a label with the mark ‘STONE ROLLS’.

Kinka mackerel

…STONE ROLLS?
It’s a strange-looking mark, and it seems strange as English too.
I was intrigued, so I did a little research.

The label also says “Kinka mackerel, landed in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture”.
I realized when I looked up this information that Kinka mackerel is a local brand product of Ishinomaki, and is being promoted together with Kinka gin and Kinka bonito…

STONE ROLLS

Is STONE ROLLS a pun on the direct translation of Ishinomaki?
When I searched for STONE ROLLS itself, it came up!

According to the can label and this website, it seems that STONE ROLLS is read as “stonroruzu”. However, it is registered as “stone rolls” in the standard characters on J-PlatPat.

The waters around Kinkasan Island, a small island off the coast of Ishinomaki City in Miyagi Prefecture, are rich in fish,
“The mackerel that live in the reefs around Kinkasan Island and do not migrate are shipped under the Kinkasan Mackerel brand. Originally, they were called the ‘reef mackerel’ that come up to Ishinomaki Port.“
Although ‘Kinkasan Mackerel’ is not a regional collective trademark, it seems to be expected as a regional brand. ‘Large-sized mackerel that are caught off the coast of Kinkasan Island and landed at Ishinomaki Port in season’. I’m looking forward to tasting them now. (blink)

A patented invention to prevent customer harassment

  • December 11, 2024
#patent

　This article introduces a patented invention that uses scientific methods to solve the problem of customer harassment.

　In the invention of Japanese Patent No. 7164793 “Speech Processing System, Speech Processing Device, and Speech Processing Method” (patent holder: SoftBank Corp.), a speech signal from a customer speaking to a call center operator is recognized by a speech processing device. If a specific word sequence is detected in the speech signal that insults the listener, denies the listener’s character, or otherwise makes the listener feel uncomfortable, the specific word sequence is removed or replaced with another word sequence. In addition, the customer’s emotions are evaluated, and if the anger level is high, a synthesized voice with suppressed emotions is output. This reduces the stress on the operator.

customer harassment

　In the invention of Japanese Patent No. 7384558 “Harmful Behavior Detection System and Method” (patent holder: Hitachi Systems, Ltd.), for example, the harmful behavior detection system detects and supports responses to harmful behavior such as malicious complaints from customers to store staff in stores. If a shop assistant receives a malicious complaint from a customer, the information terminal will detect words that indicate the possibility of harmful behavior from the voice data that has been recognized by voice recognition, and send it to the server. The server will make a judgment regarding the status of the malicious complaint, and if the degree of the malicious complaint is high, a security guard will be dispatched immediately.

customer harassment

　In Tokyo, the Customer Harassment Prevention Ordinance will come into effect on April 1st, 2025. It is hoped that providers of goods and services and customers (consumers) will respect each other’s positions, and that a fair and sustainable society free from customer harassment will be realized. (Conan)

All About Medicine

  • December 4, 2024
#patent #trademark

I think the term “generic” to refer to generic drugs has become widespread.
Generic drugs are medicines that are manufactured and sold after the patent on a new drug (original drug) has expired. They are inexpensive medicines that have been approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as having the same active ingredients and efficacy as the original drug.
In the past, when I was prescribed medicine at the hospital, I remember having to express my preference for a generic drug, or having my preference asked by the doctor or pharmacist, but now I get the impression that generics are prescribed as a matter of course without any particular confirmation.
It seems that the efforts made to promote their use in order to reduce medical costs have had a certain effect on the spread of generics.

Medicine

By the way, although it tends to be hidden behind the topic of the My Number insurance card, did you know that a new system for generics was introduced in October?
For some brand-name drugs (long-term listed drugs) that have generics, if you request a prescription for the brand-name drug, a “special fee” will be added on top of the usual co-payment.
It is hoped that this initiative will further promote the use of generic drugs.
About the choice medical treatment of long-term publication product| Saving on medical expenses | Japan Health Insurance Association

Now, a question out of the blue.
What is the first Japanese registered trademark?

The correct answer is a trademark related to medicine!
(You can probably guess the answer from the flow of the story…)

The first trademark was applied for on October 1st 1884, the same year as the trademark registration system began, and was registered on June 10th the following year. When I checked up to trademark number 50 on J-PlatPat, I found that, as far as I could tell from the “type of goods and product name”, all but four of them were trademarks related to medicine.
According to the book “Edo and Meiji Era Logo Illustrated Dictionary: A Look Back at Company Marks through Registered Trademarks”, trademarks related to medicine, which was a major domestic industry from the Edo period and also suffered a lot of counterfeiting, were registered the most throughout the Meiji era.

This year marks 140 years since the trademark registration system was established. In addition to medicine trademarks, the book also introduces many other retro trademarks, together with their historical background. I think this is a book that is both a reference book and a fun read.
The first registered trademark (depicting a person cutting a fish and cutting their finger) is also quite unique, but personally, I think the impact of the 13th Japanese registered trademark, which is also related to medicine, is incredible! (Cacao)

Practical Training in Infringement Litigation: Aiming to become a patent attorney strong in infringement litigation

  • November 27, 2024
#infringement litigation #patent

　This is Hiro. I am participating in practical training in infringement litigation, which will be held a total of four times from the beginning of September to the end of November.
　The aim of this training is to “train patent attorneys to be strong in infringement litigation, using materials arranged from actual infringement litigation cases so that even patent attorneys with no litigation experience can experience infringement litigation virtually”. I decided to participate in this training because I thought it would be perfect for me, as a registered patent attorney with supplementary qualifications, but with few opportunities to be involved in litigation.

　In the first half of the training, participants were divided into several groups and carried out mock consultations, which were designed to simulate the drafting of complaints and other documents and strategy meetings with clients, and in the second half, the lecturers provided practical training by explaining the issues in infringement litigation based on recent court decisions, so that participants could acquire the knowledge and interpretation of the issues.

　After each session, you will be asked to submit a draft of a complaint, a written response, or a plaintiff’s brief. If you submit these drafts, you will be able to receive feedback on your work from the lecturers at the next session, and you will also receive individual feedback on your work by email, which will be very helpful.

　After the first training session, I dropped by the Japan Patent Office building, which is located close to the training venue (the Japan Patent Attorneys Association Hall). As it was a Saturday, there were no staff members there, but I felt a sense of urgency as I stood in front of the Japan Patent Office, which is deeply involved in my day-to-day work.

The Japan Patent Office building The Japan Patent Office building

Caspian Sea Yogurt

  • November 21, 2024
#patent

I will introduce a patented product that you may see every day without thinking about it.
This time I will introduce “Caspian Sea Yogurt”.

Caspian Sea Yogurt

“Caspian Sea Yogurt” is different from normal yogurt in that it has less whey (the clear top layer of water that forms in yogurt) and has a texture similar to cream. It seems that the technology registered as Japanese Patent Registration No. 3878953 is used.
According to the patent, the fermentation temperature is 27-33℃ and the fermentation time is 5-9 hours. Most normal yogurts are fermented at 42℃ for around 9 hours, so this product is unique in that it is fermented at a lower temperature. Using the information in the patent, I made some delicious yogurt at home using a yogurt maker.

If you are interested in the registered content, why not try searching at the following link (J-PlatPat)? (Chamomile)

Japan Platform for Patent Information｜J-PlatPat [JPP]

Hakuba brand

  • November 19, 2024
#trademark

It’s me, Swimmer.
I went to Hakuba Village in Nagano Prefecture over the autumn holidays.
The beautiful village, with its magnificent mountain views, has great hot springs and food, and it’s a place I often visit with my family.

Hakuba Village in Nagano Prefecture

When I think of Hakuba Village, I think of the ski events at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, but it’s amazing to think that it’s already been a quarter of a century since those exciting events.
The other day I saw on TV that the land prices in Hakuba Village were rising. When I drive around the village, I notice several new holiday home developments and stylish commercial facilities under construction, and I can feel that the value of the village is increasing.
This kind of redevelopment is good for the local economy, with places to work and tourists, but of course the rising land prices could damage the image of Hakuba Village that has been built up until now.

Well, when I got back, I immediately searched for “Hakuba Village” on J-PlatPat and found seven trademarks. It seems that Hakuba Village, the surrounding area, the tourist bureau, and everyone else are all working together to protect the Hakuba brand.

The Hakuba Village character, which seems a little relaxed… It’s been made into various goods. I think it’s cute.
§Victoire Cheval Blanc Murao III

A snack that shows off the appeal of the local area – Hatahata Pie

  • November 11, 2024
#trademark

The other day, when I was looking for a souvenir for my colleagues after a trip to Akita Prefecture, I came across a snack called “Hatahata Pie”.

Hatahata Pie

I thought “I know about eel pie, but hatahata?”, however I was attracted by the eye-catching packaging and bought it, wondering what it would taste like.

After looking it up later, I found out that “Hatahata Pie” is a famous Akita confectionery that was created in 1977, and that it is made using salt from the Oga Workshop and “Shibata Yakiniku no Tare (Shibata Yakiniku sauce)” from Yokote city, and is baked into a shape that resembles hatahata, and then coated with “shottsuru”, a traditional fermented seasoning from Akita. Hatahata (Japanese sandfish) is the prefectural fish of Akita.

The founder of Kimuraya, which now includes the Hatahata Pie as one of its signature products, Kusuke Yamashita, trained at the famous Kimuraya in Tokyo, where he learned the art of making anpan (sweet buns filled with bean jam), and is said to have invented the wrapping material of aluminum foil used to wrap yokan (sweet bean jelly) and the oburato (wafer paper) used to wrap medicine.

“Hatahata Pie” was registered as a trademark in 2015 for designated products as a pie pastry (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 5730530).

The “Hatahata Pie”, which makes full use of the characteristics of the local area, was a delicious snack with a subtle salty flavor and a delicious aroma.

The prefectural fish of Aichi is the Japanese tiger prawn, and there are many snacks such as shrimp crackers, so please take them as a souvenir when you visit Aichi. (Syszo)

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