Court Decision (PPF)

[Key issue] “A trademark consists solely of a mark indicating, in a common manner, the common name of the goods or services” of Article 3(1)(i) of Trademark Act.

Court rescinded a JPO’s invalidation-trial decision, stating that in the light of the usage of “PPF” on websites, etc. for goods “films in general for protection of the body surface of automobile” (the goods ), it was acknowledged that traders and consumers had recognized “PPF” as a general abbreviation of the goods.