Issues regarding awareness, name recognition, and concerns about confusion/similarity of trademarks are often a problem in trademark registrations, invalidation trials, disputes, and litigation. If there is not enough evidence available to establish proof of the actual status of trademark use/consumer recognition, then a questionnaire survey may be used to directly investigate consumer recognition and to compensate for any deficiencies in the evidence.
A the seminar, an explanation was given on how to conduct questionnaire surveys and the points to keep in mind. These surveys are useful in various situations - such as interactions with the Patent Office, in response to trials and lawsuits, and in direct negotiations between the parties to a deal.
商標の周知性・著名性や混同のおそれ・類似性の問題は、商標登録、無効審判、紛争、訴訟においてしばしば問題になります。商標使用・需要者認識の実態を立証するために必要な証拠資料が十分に揃わない場合には、アンケート調査で需要者の認識を直接尋ね、証拠の不備を補うべきことがあります。本セミナーでは、特許庁対応、審判・訴訟対応、当事者間の直接交渉などの場面で通用するアンケート調査の実施方法や注意点について解説しました。