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.

Seminar on AI and Patent Application

  • December 22, 2023
#patent

 The Tokai-kai of the Japan Patent Attorneys Association will hold a seminar on January 26, 2024 at the Nagoya Kanko Hotel to commemorate the opening day of the Tokai-kai. The theme of the seminar will be AI (Artificial Intelligence), which has been the focus of much attention recently.
https://www.jpaa-tokai.jp/activities/seminar/chizaiDetail_2941.html

AI

 There are three types of AI-related inventions as follows
(1) AI algorithm invention: Invention about the algorithm of AI technology itself
(2) AI-utilizing invention: Invention to use a completed AI algorithm
(3) AI output invention: An invention that identifies the optimal parameters output by an AI learning model.

 Among these inventions, (2) AI-utilizing inventions are frequently filed in all technical fields. This year (August 2023), I was also in charge of filing a patent application for an AI-utilizing invention. In writing the claims, I referred to the “Patent and Utility Model Examination Handbook” for AI-related technologies and other examples. Generally, claims for AI inventions specify the invention using terms such as “machine learning,” “teacher data,” “learned model,” etc. AI technology is expected to expand the possibilities of intellectual property rights related to AI in the future through various innovations with new points of view not found in conventional technologies. (Conan)

The Importance of Naming

  • December 13, 2023
#trademark

The results of the “Japan Naming Awards 2023” was announced recently.
This year marks the fourth annual holding of this award, and this year’s grand prize went to the singing voice synthesizer “Hatsune Miku”.

The competition was not limited to names created during the year, but also included “product names,” “service names,” and “company names” that were sold or offered in Japan during this period.
In addition, the entry must be “trademark registered”.

Among the permanent awards is the “Regional Soul Brand Category/Award,” which sets a strategic area each year and encourages a large number of entries to revitalize the local economy. This year it was Fukuoka Prefecture, last year it was Okinawa Prefecture, and the year before that was Hokkaido. When Aichi Prefecture becomes a strategic area, we hope that a large number of local companies will enter the competition to boost the local economy.

pen

After developing a new product or service, it is important to dress it up with a thoughtful “name” and send it out to the world.
We can help you register your name as a trademark. We can also advise you on how to review your naming strategy by checking to see if something similar to your name is already in use by a competing company.
Please feel free to contact us.

Incidentally, on a personal note, I was surprised to see that “Rental Do Nothing Person”, which won the Jury’s Special Award, was properly registered as a trademark.(Cacao)
Japan Naming Award website (Japanese only)

Nagoya, Sakae Chunichi Building

  • December 6, 2023
#trademark

Nagoya Station and Sakae are two of the most popular downtown areas in Nagoya, but Sakae is currently lagging behind Nagoya Station, which is being revitalized through remarkable redevelopment.
One reason is that Sakae is in the process of demolishing and rebuilding many of its aging buildings, resulting in fewer commercial facilities and stores overall, and therefore attracting fewer customers.

One of the buildings under reconstruction is the Chunichi Building.
Built in 1966, it has long been a familiar building with a retro Nagoya feel, and will have its grand opening in the spring of 2024.

Nagoya, Sakae Chunichi Building Nagoya, Sakae Chunichi Building

The building complex will consist of stores and restaurants from the basement to fifth and seventh floors, a hotel, hall, rooftop plaza, and offices.
The rooftop plaza on the 7th floor will inevitably become a popular spot for relaxation and a place to overlook the Sakae cityscape.
(Time)

Chunichi Building Official Website (Only in Japanese)
https://chunichi-building.jp/

Related trademarks (from J-PlatPat)
Trademark owner: Chubu-Nippon Building Co.
Registered trademark (standard characters): “Korekaramo, machitosakaeru.”
Registration number: Japanese Trademark Registration No. 6698883
Date of registration: May 17, 2023
https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1800/TR/JP-2022-135505/41DB6D48172104020DBBB54A428156D99454BB5AE423959C1508690DC2257226/40/en

Honorable Mention

  • November 30, 2023
#trademark

The other day, I saw the book “Sequel to Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window” at a bookstore and bought it. The book was published in October 2023. When I was in elementary school, I wrote a book report on the book “Totto-chan at the Window” and received an honorable mention in the Nagoya City Book Report Competition. Seeing this book reminded me vividly of the commendation. The author of the book is Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, and the publisher is Kodansha Ltd.

“Totto-chan at the Window” is a registered trademark for newspapers, magazines, etc. (Product Category 16). The right holder is Kodansha Ltd. and the Japanese registration number is No. 3253119, with a registration date of January 31, 1997.

I thought visiting bookstores was a nice way to encounter a variety of books and topics depending on the time of year. (Raspberry)

bookstore

Baci Chocolate

  • November 22, 2023
#trademark

 Hello, this is Hiro.
 The other day, I received a gift of chocolate from my brother and his wife who were in Italy on their honeymoon. The chocolates are made by Perugina, a company founded in Italy in 1907.

Baci Chocolate Baci Chocolate

 The name “Baci” is the plural of “Bacio,” the Italian word for kiss, and when it was first developed in 1922, it was called “Cazotto” (fist) because of its appearance, but when it was changed to “Baci” it became very popular in Italy.
 The bite-sized chocolate with hazelnuts is not too sweet, and the aroma of chocolate and nuts fills the mouth; each piece contains a Cartiglio, a piece of paper with a saying about love written in four languages.

Baci Chocolate Baci Chocolate

 The “PERUGINA” on the package was registered as a Japanese trademark on October 27, 1975 (Japanese Registration No. 1167253), and the “Baci” logo was registered on February 27, 1979 (Japanese Registration No. 1374902). The company and products themselves have a very long history, but the history of trademark registration in Japan is also long.

Baci Chocolate official website: https://www.baciperugina.com/intl/

Would you like to register your company name, product name, or service name as a trademark?
If you have any questions or concerns about Japanese trademark registration, please feel free to contact us at Hattori & Partners by clicking “here“.

Smelly Glass

  • November 16, 2023
#trademark

This is Swimmer.
When shopping at the supermarket, I often see rows of capsule toy instruments. Looking at them, I feel that the number of acrylic key chains and stand toys has increased in the past few years. Various items, such as characters that have become popular on the Internet and regional limited editions, are colorfully printed on transparent acrylic resin, and when I see something that interests me, I try my hand at turning it.

Smelly Glass

Acrylic resin is called by various names, including “Smelly Glass,” which is the title of my blog this time. Acrylic resins seem to have many trademark names, and one of them is “Plexiglas” made by Evonik of Germany.

Wikipedia – Poly(methyl methacrylate)

Akafuku Tsuitachi Mochi

  • November 10, 2023
#trademark

Some time ago, an acquaintance of mine gave me a “tsuitachi mochi” (first day of the month rice cake).
“Tsuitachi mochi” is a seasonal rice cake sold on the first day of each month, excluding New Year’s Day, to welcome people who visit the Ise Jingu Shrine on “Tsuitachi mairi” (first day of the month visit).

Akafuku Tsuitachi Mochi Akafuku Tsuitachi Mochi

At the Akafuku main store in Oharaimachi of Ise Jingu Shrine, many people line up from early in the morning for the tsuitachi mochi. For take-out, numbered tickets distributed the day before are required, but reservations can also be made online, and department stores in Mie, Aichi, Osaka, Kyoto, and Hyogo also carry them.

Akafuku is a standard souvenir of Mie Prefecture, but the tsuitachi mochi is only sold once a month, making it very special. (Syszo)
Akafuku Tsuitachi Mochi (only in Japanese) https://tsuitachi.akafuku.co.jp/okuru

Akafuku Tsuitachi Mochi, Tsuitachi Mochi, has four registered trademarks (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 1949801, No. 2016873, No. 2300175, and No. 2707540).

There are many registered trademarks around us. The reason is that by registering and continuing to use a company’s logo, original product name, or service name as a trademark, you will have great brand power. Not only can you expect to increase your name recognition and sales. It is also important for any business, as it prevents other people from registering your trademark and selling inferior products.
If you have any questions or concerns about your company’s trademark registration, please feel free to contact us at Hattori &Parners by clicking “here“.