The Japan Patent Office has rejected a request by a maker of pachinko pinball machines to register the names of 35 famous people, ranging from Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler to Hebrew prophet Moses, as a trademark for a machine, the company and a patent lawyers' group said Tuesday.
The government office rejected the application for Hitler and the others in May, because such use of his name would be inappropriate and violate the spirit of the country's pacifist Constitution, according to the manufacturer. The firm said it intended to use Hitler as a parody but admitted it lacked discretion in its selection. (Kyodo News)
Must have seen an obvious move after LOTR
