{"id":134,"date":"2026-03-22T12:52:24","date_gmt":"2026-03-22T03:52:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.madrid-system.jp\/?p=134"},"modified":"2026-03-23T00:06:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T15:06:39","slug":"jpo-appeal-case-study-eri-vs-eri-similarity-refusal-maintained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.madrid-system.jp\/?p=134","title":{"rendered":"JPO Appeal Case Study: \u201ceri\u201d vs. \u201cEri\u201d \u2013 Similarity Refusal Maintained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>This case illustrates how the Japan Patent Office (JPO) evaluates similarity between stylized word marks.<br>It demonstrates that even minor differences in design or lettering may not avoid similarity if the overall impression and pronunciation are the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"i-0\">1. Application Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Mark:<\/strong> eri (stylized script)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Application No.:<\/strong> Japanese Trademark Application <strong>No. 2023-36759<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Designated Services:<\/strong> Retail and wholesale-related services in <strong>Class 35<\/strong>, including services for clothing, footwear, bags, and related goods.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"242\" height=\"56\" src=\"https:\/\/www.madrid-system.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/\u5546\u98582023-36759.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-138\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"i-1\">2. Refusal by the JPO Examiner<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The application was refused under <strong>Article 4(1)(xi)<\/strong> of the Japanese Trademark Act (likelihood of confusion with prior registered trademarks).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The examiner cited the following earlier trademarks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Cited Mark 1:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Registration No.:<\/strong> <strong>4297821<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Designated Goods:<\/strong> Clothing and related goods in <strong>Class 25<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cited Mark 2:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Registration No.:<\/strong> <strong>4341003<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Designated Goods:<\/strong> Bags and related goods in <strong>Class 18<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"213\" height=\"70\" src=\"https:\/\/www.madrid-system.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/\u767b\u93324297821.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-139\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Both cited marks consist of the stylized word <strong>\u201cEri\u201d<\/strong> in script form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The examiner concluded that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the applied mark and cited marks share the same lettering (<strong>eri \/ Eri<\/strong>), and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the differences in stylization are insufficient to distinguish them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"i-2\">3. Appeal to the JPO Trial and Appeal Board<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>An appeal was filed against the refusal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Appeal No.:<\/strong> <strong>2024-3320<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The appeal challenged the similarity assessment, particularly the weight given to differences in stylization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"i-3\">4. Decision of the Appeal Board<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The JPO Appeal Board <strong>upheld the refusal<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Board found that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Both marks consist of the same letters (<strong>eri \/ Eri<\/strong>) and are written in a similar handwritten style.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Although there are minor differences (e.g., capitalization and decorative elements), the <strong>overall visual impression is similar<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The Board further noted that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The marks produce identical pronunciations (e.g., \u201ceri\u201d).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Neither mark has a specific meaning, so conceptual comparison is neutral.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Taking these factors together, the Board concluded that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the marks create a similar overall impression and may cause confusion as to source.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"i-4\">5. Goods\/Services Comparison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Board also found that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>retail services for clothing, footwear, and bags are closely related to<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the goods covered by the cited marks (clothing and bags),<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>because such goods and retail services are often provided by the same entities and share consumers and trade channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"i-5\">6. Outcome<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Board concluded that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the marks are <strong>similar<\/strong>, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the goods\/services are also <strong>similar<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Accordingly, the refusal was <strong>maintained<\/strong>, and the application was <strong>not registrable<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"i-6\">Key Point for Foreign Applicants<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>This case highlights an important aspect of Japanese trademark practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. Stylization differences are often insufficient<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Minor differences in font, decoration, or capitalization may not avoid similarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. Pronunciation carries strong weight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If two marks are pronounced the same, they are often considered similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. Retail services can be similar to goods<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Retail\/wholesale services may be considered similar to the goods they handle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<p>\u2705 <strong>Practical takeaway<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Japan, trademarks may be considered similar even if they differ visually, where:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the <strong>word elements are identical<\/strong>, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the <strong>pronunciation is the same<\/strong>, especially when goods and services are commercially related.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-sgb-sen\">\n\n\n\n<p>The cases presented here are based on publicly available JPO decisions and are provided for informational purposes only.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This case illustrates how the Japan Patent Office (JPO) evaluates similarity between stylized word marks.It de &#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-134","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-unsuccessful-cases-in-japan","7":"entry","8":"nothumb"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.madrid-system.jp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.madrid-system.jp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.madrid-system.jp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madrid-system.jp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madrid-system.jp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=134"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.madrid-system.jp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":167,"href":"https:\/\/www.madrid-system.jp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134\/revisions\/167"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.madrid-system.jp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=134"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madrid-system.jp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=134"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madrid-system.jp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=134"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}