{"id":231,"date":"2026-04-29T20:55:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T11:55:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.madrid-system.jp\/?p=231"},"modified":"2026-04-29T20:55:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T11:55:21","slug":"jpo-appeal-case-study-venn-vs-ben-similarity-refusal-overturned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.madrid-system.jp\/?p=231","title":{"rendered":"JPO Appeal Case Study: \u201cVENN\u201d vs. \u201cBEN\u201d \u2013 Similarity Refusal Overturned"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>This case illustrates how the Japan Patent Office (JPO) evaluates similarity when two short word marks share identical pronunciation but differ in spelling.<br>It demonstrates that even in short marks, visual differences\u2014especially at the beginning of the word\u2014can outweigh phonetic similarity.<\/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> VENN<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Application No.:<\/strong> Japanese Trademark Application <strong>No. 2020-25316<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Designated Goods\/Services:<\/strong><br>Goods and services across <strong>Classes 6, 7, 9, 11, 17, and 37<\/strong>, including valves, machinery, piping equipment, and installation\/maintenance services.<\/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-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>Mark:<\/strong> BEN<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Registration No.:<\/strong> <strong>5754760<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Designated Services:<\/strong> Construction-related services in <strong>Class 37<\/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>Mark:<\/strong> VEN<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Registration No.:<\/strong> <strong>6127907<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Designated Goods\/Services:<\/strong> Software and financial-related services in <strong>Classes 9 and 36<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The examiner concluded that the marks are similar, primarily based on phonetic similarity.<\/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-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>2021-10952<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>During the appeal, the scope of designated goods\/services was amended, eliminating overlap with one of the cited marks.<\/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>reversed the refusal<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"i-4\">(1) Comparison with \u201cVEN\u201d (Cited Mark 2)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>After amendment, the designated goods\/services were <strong>no longer similar<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>therefore, the refusal based on this cited mark was resolved.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"i-5\">(2) Comparison with \u201cBEN\u201d (Cited Mark 1)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Board found that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Both marks produce the same pronunciation (\u201cben\u201d).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Neither mark has a specific meaning (conceptually neutral).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the Board emphasized that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The marks differ clearly in <strong>appearance<\/strong>, including:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>initial letter <strong>\u201cV\u201d vs. \u201cB\u201d<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>length (<strong>four letters vs. three letters<\/strong>), and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>structure (double \u201cNN\u201d vs. single \u201cN\u201d).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These differences were considered significant, particularly given the short length of the marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Accordingly, the Board concluded that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the marks are visually distinguishable, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the overall impression is sufficiently different despite identical pronunciation.<\/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-6\">5. Outcome<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Board determined that the marks are <strong>not similar<\/strong>, and the refusal was set aside.<br>The trademark <strong>\u201cVENN\u201d<\/strong> was allowed to proceed toward registration.<\/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-7\">Key Point for Foreign Applicants<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>This case highlights an important principle in Japanese trademark practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. Visual differences are critical for short marks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In short trademarks, even small differences (e.g., one letter) can significantly affect the overall impression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. Initial letters carry strong weight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Differences at the beginning of the mark are particularly important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. Phonetic identity is not decisive<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even identical pronunciation does not automatically result in similarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4. Amendments can resolve conflicts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Adjusting the scope of goods\/services can eliminate conflicts with certain cited marks.<\/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 <strong>dissimilar despite identical pronunciation<\/strong>, particularly where:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the marks are short, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>their <strong>visual structure and initial letters are clearly different<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This case illustrates how the Japan Patent Office (JPO) evaluates similarity when two short word marks share i &#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-231","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-successful-cases-in-japan","7":"entry","8":"nothumb"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.madrid-system.jp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/231","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=231"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.madrid-system.jp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/231\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":232,"href":"https:\/\/www.madrid-system.jp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/231\/revisions\/232"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.madrid-system.jp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=231"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madrid-system.jp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=231"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madrid-system.jp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=231"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}