EMAIL: info@okeno-ip.jp
No. 027; Section 3-1-3/4-1-16: descriptiveness and
misdescriptiveness refusal; 3DFIT for diapers for infants;
Appeal No. 2013-15455(December 20, 2013)
Bottom line: The Board found 3DFIT is not descriptive nor misdescriptive for diapers.
The applicant sought registration of 3DFIT, wherein FIT is written in katakana as shown below, designating diapers of paper for infants, disposable diapers of paper for infants (including diaper-pants).
[Applied-for mark]
(Katakana
portion is transliteration of FIT.)
The examiner was of the opinion that the applied-for mark is merely descriptive for diapers that have three-dimensional shape and fit well on babies’ hip and that it is also misdescriptive for diapers lacking such features.
The
Board acknowledged the meaning of each term 3D and FIT, but did not agree to
the rest of the examiner’s opinion. The
Board could not find any proof to confirm that 3DFIT as a whole is used in the relevant
industry referring to “well-fit with three-dimensional shape”, or 3DFIT is
recognized as such among the consumers to refer to the quality of goods. Therefore, the Board concluded that the
applied-for mark is not descriptive nor misdescriptive with respect to the
designated goods.
And
so the Board reversed the refusal, and the application for 3DFIT (FIT in
katakana) was granted for registration.
Dojima NS Bldg. 3F, 2-1-18, Dojima
Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0003 Japan
TEL: +81-6-6343-8401
FAX: +81-6-6343-8402
Email: info@okeno-ip.jp