Author: kazu

Episode 13 There is a debate about whether or not applied art should be subject to overlapping application of design rights and copyright. The conventional view was that for applied art to be protected as a work of authorship, it was not enough for the expression to be recognized as creative, but that it also…

Episode 12 In Episode 11, we explained about designs based on functional beauty. In this case, if an item that is the subject of a design registration focuses on its function, it becomes the subject of a utility model registration. In the United States, both designs and utility models are incorporated into the patent system…

Episode 11 The Design Law stipulates “In this law, ‘design’ refers to the shape of an object, the shape of a building or a picture that evokes a feeling of beauty through the visual sense.” (Article 2, paragraph 1 of the same law) .What is this “sense of beauty”? First, there is the traditional decorative…

Episode 10 In episode 9, we explained about trademark registration applications, but this time we will explain about appeals. Even if you file a patent, design, or trademark application and receive a decision of refusal, you can request an appeal against the decision of refusal. In appeals against decisions of refusal, approximately 70% of requests…