According to the Japanese Patent Office (JPO), the logo featured on CUGGL t-shirts does not bear enough similarity to Gucci’s logo to warrant removing CUGGL from the market. Gucci had previously filed an opposition with the JPO against the registration of the Japanese brand “CUGGL,” claiming that the design of the t-shirts was too similar to their own logo and could confuse consumers.
The t-shirts in question display letters covered in a stroke of pink paint, with a font that Gucci argues resembles their own logo. Gucci’s lawyers argued that CUGGL was attempting to take advantage of Gucci’s reputation and traffic with their marketing strategy. They claimed that the similarities between the logos violated trademark laws and requested that CUGGL be removed from the records.
However, the JPO ruled that there was not enough visual or phonetic resemblance between the two brands for confusion to occur. Therefore, they rejected Gucci’s request.
This case highlights the ongoing battle luxury brands face in protecting their intellectual property. While other brands, such as Saint Laurent and Chanel, are known for fiercely defending their trademarks, Gucci has taken a different approach. The brand has previously launched a collection featuring the Guccy logo, a nod to the skewed logos found on counterfeit products. They have also collaborated with Balenciaga, allowing themselves to be copied by the brand.
On the JPO’s J-PlatPat website, it is revealed that CUGGL’s founder, Nobuo Kurokawa, has drawn inspiration from other well-known brands too. Among the registered or pending registration brands, there are similarities with Adidas, Chanel, and Balenciaga. This raises the question of where the line should be drawn between plagiarism and humorous inspiration.
Overall, the JPO’s decision in favor of CUGGL suggests that the public is unlikely to confuse the two brands due to the differences in their logos. Gucci’s unique approach to counterfeits and copies adds an interesting dimension to the ongoing debate surrounding intellectual property rights in the fashion industry.
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