Have a Break

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

EcoCute

  • February 29, 2024
#trademark

At the beginning of February, the water heater in my home broke down and I had to replace it.
I have replaced my EcoCute, which was first installed in 2010.
It broke down suddenly without warning, so we didn’t have time to consider the manufacturer, model, etc. The contractor suggested the quickest possible installation, which was completed in five days.

(Example of EcoCute)
EcoCute

EcoCute has an image of being both environmentally and wallet-friendly, but I took the opportunity to find out a little more about it.

According to Wikipedia, the official name of EcoCute is “natural refrigerant heat pump water heater” and the name “EcoCute” is a registered trademark of Kansai Electric Power Company, a nickname used by Japanese power and water heater manufacturers. In April 2001, based on a basic patent from Denso and other companies, CORONA CORPORATION launched the world’s first EcoCute, and I was suddenly interested to learn that our client Denso was involved in its development.
Further investigation revealed that research technology aimed at developing car air-conditioners using carbon dioxide (CO2) as a natural refrigerant had caught the attention of researchers at the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, who were studying next-generation hot-water supply systems, and members of a TEPCO research team who were looking for new product development, and they decided to launch a project called “Heat pump water heater using natural refrigerants” by three companies from different industries. (For more information, see website below).
Denso EcoCute Development Story｜Technology｜Natural Refrigerant Water Heater EcoCute | Denso (denso.com) (Japanese only)

One of the notable advantages of EcoCute is that it is equipped with an emergency water intake tap, so that the water in the tank can be used as domestic water when the water supply is cut off due to a disaster.
Daikin’s official website states that a 370-litre hot water storage tank can provide a family of four with about three days’ worth of water for emergency use.
Preparing for Disasters with EcoCute｜EcoCute｜Daikin Industries, Ltd. (daikin.co.jp) (Japanese only)
EcoCute is expected to become more and more popular as it reduces the environmental burden, lowers utility costs and helps to mitigate disasters.

By the way, did you know that ‘Kyuto in Japanese, Cute’ in EcoCute is taken from the word ‘Kyutou in Japanese, hot water supply’? I hadn’t noticed that at all! It’s a very good name♪ (cacao)

Baked Sweet Potato ～Beni Tenshi～

  • February 21, 2024
#trademark

When I go to a supermarket or a discount store, freshly baked sweet potatoes are sold regardless of summer or winter, and a delicious smell drifts around the baked sweet potato machine, and I end up buying it.
The other day, I found the familiar ‘Calbee’ logo of the famous snack food company ‘Calbee, Inc.’ on the back of a bag of baked sweet potato I had purchased.

Calbee Kaitsuka Sweet Potato

Curious, I looked up the printed part ‘Calbee Kaitsuka Sweet Potato’ and found that the company was ‘Calbee Kaitsuka Sweet Potato Co’. This company is an affiliate of ‘Calbee, Inc.’, and was the largest sweet potato company in Ibaraki Prefecture, but became ‘Calbee Kaitsuka Sweet Potato, Inc.’.
The baked sweet potato purchased this time is registered as a trademark under the product name ‘Beni Tenshi’. (Time)

Beni Tenshi

●Japanese registered trademark:
Standard character trademark: Beni Tenshi
Registration number: No. 6759317
Date of registration: 4 December 2023
Trademark proprietor: Calbee Kaitsuka Sweet Potato, Inc.
https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1800/TR/JP-2023-070198/36693255AF0B68F3576D5DF184115144024C69B862FA852775912DE698002B61/40/en

Copyright

  • February 14, 2024
#copyright #trademark

　The Examination of Copyright Proficiency for Practical Business, which started in 2004, is a test on copyright and is organized by the Certify Copyright Examination Committee. Last year, I passed the Examination of Copyright Proficiency for Practical Business Advanced Level.

Examination of Copyright Proficiency for Practical Business

　The above logo mark indicating the Examination of Copyright Proficiency for Practical Business is a registered trademark (registration date: November 5, 2004, Japanese trademark registration number: No. 4815092) whose trademark owner is Wenet Inc.

　We offer a wide range of support services in addition to consultation regarding copyrights. Please refer to the following list for examples of our copyright support services.

<Copyright consultation>
If you think you may be infringing on copyrights, we can provide you with appropriate advice on copyrights.

<Management of Copyrighted Works>
If you are working in the field of design, we will advise you on how to manage your copyrighted works by yourself or by outsourcing them to a management company.

<Use of orphanworks (works whose copyright holders are unknown) >
For those who wish to use orphanworks, we provide advice on how to find the copyright holder for the adjudication system and other methods to realize the use of copyrighted works.

<Design of products and advertisements>
When creating a product or creating an advertisement, you may be wondering whether the use of an illustration or a phrase does not infringe on your copyright. We can provide advice on copyright infringement, as well as trademark and design rights.

<Copyright registration with the Agency for Cultural Affairs>
We register the transfer of copyrights, the actual name of the author, the date of creation, etc., the establishment of publishing rights, and the transfer of publishing rights. We offer domestic copyright registration, foreign copyright registration, and the drafting of various domestic and foreign contracts.

　Our firm has Patent and Trademark Attorneys and persons who have passed the Examination of Copyright Proficiency for Practical Business Advanced Level. Please feel free to contact us here for consultation or request for copyrights. (Raspberry)

PDF document on copyright: pamphlet-chosakuken202102.pdf (jpaa.or.jp)
Examination of Copyright Proficiency for Practical Business: https://www.sikaku.gr.jp/bc/introduction/

‘Minna no Mori’ Gifu Media Cosmos ~Everybody’s Library and other Cultural-Arts Complex~

  • February 7, 2024
#intellectual property #trademark

　Hello, this is Hiro.
　I received an invitation from my child’s elementary school and kindergarten to visit the Gifu City Art Exhibition, so my family and I went to see the exhibition. The venue was “Minna no Mori Gifu Media Cosmos”. “Minna no Mori Gifu Media Cosmos” is a cultural-arts complex centered on the Gifu City Library, completed in 2015.

'Minna no Mori' Gifu Media Cosmos ～Everybody's Library and other Cultural-Arts Complex～ 'Minna no Mori' Gifu Media Cosmos ～Everybody's Library and other Cultural-Arts Complex～

　The Gifu City Art Exhibition was held in the exhibition space on the first floor of “Minna no Mori Gifu Media Cosmos”. Many paintings, prints, brushstrokes, and other works by children attending nursery schools, kindergartens, elementary and junior high schools, and special-needs schools in Gifu City were on display. Unfortunately, our child’s work was not on display, but it was nice to see many works of art by children with a child-like touch and detailed drawings.

　After viewing the Gifu City Art Exhibition, we went to the library on the second floor. The wooden lattice ceiling and several hanging globes from it are beautiful and make the space very comfortable and cozy.

'Minna no Mori' Gifu Media Cosmos ～Everybody's Library and other Cultural-Arts Complex～ 'Minna no Mori' Gifu Media Cosmos ～Everybody's Library and other Cultural-Arts Complex～

　I had visited this library once a few years ago but did not use it at that time. This time, I made a new user card and borrowed books. I borrowed six books on intellectual property practice and a book on intellectual property for elementary and junior high school students, “Intellectual Property Rights You should Know at School 1-3 “.

'Minna no Mori' Gifu Media Cosmos ～Everybody's Library and other Cultural-Arts Complex～

　”Intellectual Property Rights You Should Know at School 1-3″ is supervised by Mr. Tetsuhiro Hosono, born in Gifu Prefecture who served as Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office from 2009 to 2011. The books are described with many cartoons, figures, and photographs, making it easy for elementary and junior high school students to understand. The book is recommended not only for children but also for adults as a book to learn about intellectual property rights.

　”Minna no Mori” and “Gifu Media Cosmos” are registered as trademarks for services in Class 41 “book rental, art exhibitions,…” and Class 43 “rental of facilities for exhibitions…” (Japanese Registration No. 5522323 and 5522324).

Foreign language ｜ みんなの森　ぎふメディアコスモス – ´Minna no Mori’ Gifu Media Cosmos (g-mediacosmos.jp)

Space Education Recommendations

  • January 31, 2024
#copyright #intellectual property

The Small Lunar Module (SLIM) launched by JAXA became the fifth country in the world to successfully land on the Moon. Unfortunately, the planned lunar exploration seems to be difficult due to a problem with the landing attitude, but we will keep our eyes on the future of this project.
By the way, JAXA provides a variety of educational materials for free on its website. Please read the terms and conditions of copyright and intellectual property rights carefully before using these materials, and try them at home.
https://edu.jaxa.jp/materialDB/

The image is a picture of the moon I took with my smartphone a few years ago. You can see something in the reflection.
(Swimmer)

moon

The Beatles – Now and Then

  • January 23, 2024
#trademark

On November 2, 2023, a new Beatles song, “Now and Then,” was released.
The Beatles broke up in 1970, but this was their first new song release in 27 years, since 1996, and it made a big splash. It is said that “Now and Then” is the last new Beatles song.

There is another reason why it became a big topic.
This song is based on a cassette tape that the late John Lennon wrote in the late 1970s and recorded while playing the piano at home.
The sound quality of the cassette tape was so bad that it was impossible with earlier technology to extract only the singing voice over the piano.
His voice was overlaid on Paul McCartney’s and Ringo Starr’s performances and the late George Harrison’s sound sources to create a complete new song by the four members, which has now been officially released.

I listened to the song shortly after its release and found the sound quality to be unmistakably that of a demo tape, with a somber atmosphere and the universal appeal of the Beatles.
The lyrics of the song express gratitude and affection for the person from whom they have drifted apart, but perhaps the members expressed their feelings for each other, not only from John Lennon’s point of view, but also from each other’s, by putting this song out into the world as a Beatles’ song.
I am sure that the song has touched the hearts of not only the old Beatles fans but also the younger generation of fans. (Syszo)

In Japan, 13 trademarks for “THE BEATLES” and “BEATLES” have been registered by Apple Corps Limited. If you are interested, please search for them on J-PlatPat.

Hometown Tax Donation Program ～Where is your hometown?～

  • January 18, 2024
#trademark

On a personal note, I paid my hometown tax through “Satofuru” in December 2023.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ “Understanding Furusato Taxation! Furusato Tax Payment” of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications states, “The Furusato Tax Payment System was established as a system that allows people to contribute to the hometown where they were born and raised, and to choose the municipality they wish to support at their own will.
So, I wondered. Where exactly is my hometown?
For many people, their hometown is the place where they were born and raised, where they went to school, or where they worked. Or, the place where one’s parents live can also be considered one’s hometown.
But where is the hometown of a person who was born and raised in different places?
I thought about the hometowns of people who are often transferred from one place to another or who spent their childhood in a foreign country like myself, and I thought that the place where they have spent the most time since their birth would be appropriate.

This time I paid my hometown tax to Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture, where my grandparents live. I chose Kyotango City because I sometimes visit there during long vacations and I wanted to contribute to the municipality that has taken care of me so well.
I received 10 kilograms of rice and Japanese beef as a thank-you gift♪ (Rabbit)

Hometown Tax Donation Program

“Satofuru” is a registered trademark of SB Players Co.

Hometown tax payment site [Satofuru] No.1 in recognition of search by ranking and reviews (satofull.jp) (Japanese only)
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications｜Understand! Furusato Tax Payment｜Understand well! Furusato Tax Payment (soumu.go.jp) (Japanese only)

Copyright of Mickey Mouse

  • January 9, 2024
#copyright

　The copyright of the popular character, the first Mickey Mouse, expired on January 1, 2024, and became public domain in the United States. This makes it possible to create derivative works of the original Mickey. The one that will be in the public domain is the one from the 1928 short film “Steamboat Willie,” which differs from the modern version in the way the eyes are drawn and, in the gloves, and shoes. In addition, the Mickey Mouse trademark is owned by Disney, even though it is now in the public domain.

　In 2023, the release of “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey” a horror film based on “Winnie the Pooh,” whose copyright expired a year earlier, also attracted attention. We may see more films based on Mickey Mouse, who is now in the public domain, in the future. (Marron)

Reference URL:
An early version of Mickey Mouse is now in the public domain (CNN)
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/01/business/mickey-mouse-early-version-copyright-expired/index.html

Altitude Films – Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey
https://www.altitude.film/winnie-the-pooh-blood-and-honey

Safety Razor Blade

  • January 5, 2024
#Inventions of the Day #patent

　Today, I will introduce an invention that is closely associated with today (January 5), the safety razor blade. January 5 is the birthday of King Camp Gillette, an American businessman and inventor of the safety razor.

　When I think of safety razors, I think of Gillette or Schick, although there is also Kaijirushi(KAI) and Feather. By the way, I use Schick’s Extreme 3 every morning. It is a disposable product, but it lasts rather long (lol).

Schick's Extreme 3

　Gillette was born in 1855 in Wisconsin and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. While working as a salesman, he came up with the idea of inventing a disposable razor blade when his employer told him that he could stabilize his customer base by introducing a disposable product. He went on to develop a replaceable blade safety razor and founded the Gillette Company in September 1901. In December of the same year, he applied for a patent, and after a three-year examination period, he was granted a patent.

(When I searched the J-Plat Pat, the information came up, but unfortunately, “The specified gazette does not exist.” However, a search on Google Patents yielded the gazette as well.)

　Although Gillette did not do well in 1903 when it started manufacturing and selling razor blades, the company’s performance increased when it distributed it to drinks as a free gift, and in 1918, the U.S. government ordered razor blades and replacement blades for soldiers serving in World War I. This led to the company becoming the world’s largest manufacturer of razor blades.

　Today, Gillette is known for its razor and blades model, a business strategy that is said to have been pioneered by the company. This model is based on selling the core product at a lower price (or offering it free of charge) in order to increase sales of complementary products such as consumables. Even today, there are examples such as inkjet printers, where the price of ink cartridges has increased dramatically; coffee machines, where you have to buy special capsules or pods for use; electric toothbrushes…. I’m sure you have some of these in mind. I have all of those listed here (lol).

　Anyway, I guess it is not so easy to succeed just by making a groundbreaking invention. I would like to refer to the struggles of our predecessors who created new markets that had never existed before. (blink)

Familiar naming

  • December 26, 2023
#trademark

This month, our client SUN-SHIELD Co., Ltd. released a simulation application for crane operations.
The name of the app is “Tsutaro”(つったろう).

This application displays a crane in real space using AR and enables various simulations. It is intended to be used in situations where it is difficult to verify in advance with an actual crane, such as “Can the crane be positioned in the planned work area?”, “Is it possible to work without hitting any obstacles?”,etc.
Crane operations may seem a little difficult to approach for those who are not involved in the field, but thanks to the name “Tsutaro,” some people may feel free to download the application.
I think it is a very nice name that indicates the contents of the application and is familiar and easy to remember.

When I actually downloaded the application, I was able to enjoy the simulation as if it were a game. I was surprised that I could easily experience AR with my own smartphone.

SUN-SHIELD logo

When operating the app, the above logo is used as an AR marker.
Our firm represented the application for the application name “Tsutaro” and the logo mark above. The application for “Tsutaro” is currently pending (Trademark Application No. 2023-079991), and the logo mark was registered (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 6761123) on December 11, 2023.　　　（Sakura Mochi)


Why don’t you register your company’s important product or service name as a trademark?
Please feel free to contact us here for consultation and request for trademark registration.
Of course, individual clients are also welcome.

App Store “Tsutaro”:
https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/%E3%81%A4%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E3%82%8D%E3%81%86/id6473239438
※Only available in the App Store.

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