table of contents
What is the standard writing system?
This is a system in which, among trademarks consisting only of characters, those in a character font (standard characters) predetermined by the Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office are announced and registered as the display mode of the trademark. If the following requirements are not met, an application can be filed by simply stating in the application the trademark for which the applicant wishes to register, based on the applicant's declaration of intention (Article 5, Paragraph 3 of the Trademark Law).
Examples of characters that are not recognized as standard characters
②Trademarks containing characters other than those designated by the Commissioner of the Patent Office
③ Character limit: Trademarks consisting of more than 30 characters (spaces are also added to the number of characters)
④Vertical writing trademarks, trademarks consisting of two or more columns
⑤Trademarks containing characters with different points
⑥Colored trademark
⑦Trademarks in which some of the characters are written graphically or in different fonts
⑧Trademarks written in special characters such as flower characters or special fonts such as cursive
⑨Trademarks containing consecutive spaces
Scope of trademark rights
The scope of trademark rights is the same as or similar to registered trademarks (standard characters).
In other words, there is no difference in the breadth of the scope compared to regular trademark registration.
The scope of registered trademarks using standard characters is determined not by the trademark itself written in the application, but by replacing it with standard characters and using characters similar to the Mincho font.
Non-use cancellation trial
Therefore, if you have decided on the typeface you will actually use, we recommend that you register your trademark using that typeface.
Differences from filing a logo trademark (for trademarks consisting only of characters)
standard characters
Merit
・It is possible to search for prior trademarks based on the appearance, name, and idea of the character string.
・Easy to manage and search trademarks
Demerit
・If the trademark used becomes a distinctive logo, re-application may be required.
logo trademark
Merit
・It also affects the design of typefaces.
・The design of the typeface makes it easier to recognize its distinctiveness.
・Can be colored, making it easy to leave an impression on consumers, etc.
・It is possible to apply for double-column characters such as European characters and katakana.
Demerit