When Tokyu Isn't Tokyu

[Mulboyne]

[Captain Japan]

It looks like the Miyagi company builds homes and gardens.

[Charles]

It looks like the Miyagi company builds homes and gardens.

And then those bullies from Cobra-kai come in and kick it all down, so Daniel-san has to rebuild it and paint the fences all over again.

[alicia454]

Good to see the Japanese courts give the little guy a fair shake.

It looks like the trademark legal framework is more sane here in Japan than in Canada...

Olympics reach a new low: trademarking the Canadian national anthem and threatening lawsuits over competing uses.
http://www.boingboing.net/2008/09/29/olympics-reach-a-new.html

[Mulboyne]

Good to see the Japanese courts give the little guy a fair shake.

Mitsubishi Pencil not only can use its own name in Japanese and English, it can even use the three diamond logo despite not being a member of the Mitsubishi group.

[IkemenTommy]

Tokyu Corp must really be struggling if they had to go after the little guys for some settlement money.

[Catoneinutica]

There's doubtless a different thread on the issue, but apparently Chinese companies are registering in China the names of certain Japanese prefectures that are associated with "quality" goods. I don't remember the specifics, and can't be arsed to go look for them right now, but apparently they use a non-J-standard kanji or a different kanji with the same reading. Pretty interesting legal territory.

[Gilligan]

Tokyu Corp must really be struggling if they had to go after the little guys for some settlement money.

I can't really speak to the issue in Japan, but I believe that in situations like this in America, the bigger company is almost obligated to go after the little guy or forfeit its right to do so against others later on.