Honda's Super Cub obtains 3-D trademark registration in Japan
The shape of the Super Cub, Honda's popular and
long-selling scooter, has been granted a 3-D trademark registration by the
Japan Patent Office, Honda Motor Co. said May 26. It marks the first time in Japan that the shape
of a motorcycle or any other product from an automaker has been registered as a
3-D trademark, and it is an extremely rare case for an industrial product of
any kind. Since the Super Cub was introduced in 1958,
Honda has maintained a consistent design concept while continuously achieving
functional improvements. As a result, most consumers today instantly recognize
the Super Cub as a Honda product, which was a key determining factor for the
Japan Patent Office to grant the trademark, the company said. The Super Cub has been sold in more than 160
countries. As of March, cumulative worldwide production reached 87 million
units, the largest production volume of any motorcycle in the world, according
to Honda. Honda is currently manufacturing the Super Cub series at 15
production plants in 14 countries, including Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam,
Brazil, China, Nigeria and Japan. In Vietnam, Super Cub was come to the
Vietnamese people since 1960 with 750,000 motorcycles imported in the South of
country. It was not rare for all members of a family using Super Cub. The trademark
was so well-known that all types of motorcycles were called "honda". As a legal representative in Vietnam for Honda
Motor Co., Ltd, we have been enforcing the intellectual property rights of
Honda over the past 12 years. During the raids, many Super Cub Copy have been
selling on the market, however, it could not settled the imitation acts since Super
Cub has not been protected under industrial design. To have legal grounds to raid the motor-copies in the future, Honda should apply 3D trademark application for Super Cub in Viet
Nam. Congratulation on achievement
great success in obtaining the Super Cub 3D trademark rights!. Pham
& Associates (Adapted from The Asahi Shimbun & world.honda.com)
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