Announcement of the Report Compiled by the Trademark System Subcommittee under the Industrial Structure Council- An Ideal Trademark System to Protect New Types of Trademarks and for Other Measures -

As brand strategies of enterprises have diversified in recent years, a variety of new trademarks has been utilized, such as those combined with motions, colors without profiles, or sounds, in addition to existing trademarks combined with letters or figures. At the same time, regional cuisines, which commerce and industry associations, chambers of commerce and industry, and NPOs are endeavoring to lead in promoting, are attracting people's attention as new regional brands.

Considering these situations, the Trademark System Subcommittee under the Intellectual Property Policy Committee of the Industrial Structure Council has discussed the legislative challenges of the trademark system and compiled the report.

1) Introduction of a system to protect new types of trademarks

The report states that it is appropriate to additionally protect trademarks combined with motions, holograms, colors without profiles, positions, or sounds under the Trademark Act so as to support such enterprises' various brand strategies.

2) Improved protection of regional brands by the trademark system

The report also notes that it is appropriate to add such commerce and industry associations, chambers of commerce and industry, and NPOs that are endeavoring to lead in promoting regional cuisines to the subjects entitled to register regional collective trademarks.

• Full text of the report(PDF:349KB) (in Japanese)

February 28, 2013

Legislative Affairs Office, General Affairs Division, General Affairs Department, Japan Patent Office