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Podcast: ゆるカワ❤︎商標ラジオ |著書『ロゴとネーミングの法律』発売中
Episode: ZOOM Trademark Dispute!
Description: In 2024, a trademark dispute erupted between audio equipment maker Zoom Corporation (“Audio ZOOM”) and the web conferencing company (“Web Conference ZOOM”) over the “ZOOM” name. Although Web Conference ZOOM acquired trademark rights from stationery maker Tombow Pencil, Audio ZOOM filed a non-use cancellation trial, ultimately claiming Tombow had not properly used “ZOOM” in the required period. The Japan Patent Office agreed, ordering cancellation. A subsequent lawsuit contests this decision. The legal question revolves around whether Web Conference ZOOM’s current use counts as valid under the trademark law’s three-year rule, potentially preventing the mark’s cancellation and shaping future trademark dispu...