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SIMILAR PRODUCTS registration covering the same trademark


and goods as those now contained in Kito’s application. Te owner of the ‘Kiton’ mark successfully opposed that registration. In that opposition, the IPO held likelihood of confusion on the ground of similarity of marks and goods, and the case became final.


In the Kito case, the IPO justified its final rejection by arguing that it did nothing improper because it


followed the prior case binding


rule. Kito complained that it had suffered a grievance under the rule because its mark had been appropriated for bad faith filing by the Taiwanese distributor. Kito said that it had had no opportunity to defend its mark in the prior case, and that it had been leſt with nothing but to file a new application covering exactly the same mark and goods, in the hope of getting a de nova revisiting of the issues.


Te IP Court held as follows: the prior case binding rule is just a qualified rule, and is subject to the special treatment exception. Te present case falls under that exception. Te marks are just slightly similar, and the goods are of a low degree of similarity. Also, the Taiwanese distributor does not own the ‘Kito’ mark and cannot be expected to defend the mark as vigorously as Kito would


do. Te IPO should have exercised self-restraint in applying the rule, but failed to do so.


Comments


Pursuant to the Kito decision, the IPO has adopted a more


liberal internal policy of


allowing its examiners to decide each case on the basis of its facts, to see if special treatment should be granted irrespective of


the prior decision.


Trademark proprietors may see if it is desirable to cite the Kito decision to have the IPO revisit its case for a special treatment.


On the other hand, it is desirable to cite prior cases of a similar nature in support of a desired result.


Kito was represented by Himark Counselors. Upon successful registration of the ‘Kito’ mark, the owner of the ‘Kiton’ mark filed a further opposition, now pending. 


James C. Chao is managing partner at Himark Counselors. He can be contacted at: chao@counselor.com.tw


James C. Chao, JD, University of San Francisco and admitted to the California bar, is the managing partner of Himark Counselors, practising primarily intellectual property law. He is an expert panellist for UDRP (Taiwan), and a key co-author of the well-received book An Introduction to Intellectual Property, now in its 9th edition.


www.worldipreview.com


World Intellectual Property Review September/October 2012


81


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