Category	Figure trademark	Three-dimensional trademark	Character trademark
Description	Japanese chrysanthemum	Small, bronze Kobe Beef statuette	「神戸ビーフ」	「神戸肉」	「神戸牛」	「但馬ビーフ」	「但馬牛」
			“Kobe Beef”	“Kobe Meat”	“Kobe-gyu”	“Tajima Beef”	“Tajima-gyu”
Date Registered	February 16, 2001	July 6, 2001	August 3, 2007	August 3, 2007	August 3, 2007	October 12, 2007	October 12, 2007
Registration No.	Trademark No.4454128	Trademark No.4487460	Trademark No.5068214	Trademark No.5068215	Trademark No.5068216	Trademark No.5083160	Trademark No.5083161

*As the chrysanthemum, “Nojikiku” in Japanese is the Flower of Hyogo Prefecture, it was chosen as the graphic trademark of Kobe Beef.

South Korea	August 2009	August 2009	August 2009	August 2009	August 2009
Taiwan	May 2010	May 2010	May 2010	May 2010	May 2010
Hong Kong	September 2011	September 2011	September 2011	N/A	N/A
China	N/A	N/A	N/A	November 2012	November 2012
Macao	January 2013	January 2013	January 2013	January 2013	January 2013
Singapore	September 2013	September 2013	September 2013	September 2013	September 2013
U.S.A.		August 2014			August 2014
EU	October 2014	October 2014	October 2014	October 2014	October 2014
Thailand	March 2015	March 2015	March 2015	August 2016	December 2017
Vietnam	December 2015	December 2015	December 2015	May 2016	May 2016
Philippines	June 2017	June 2017	June 2017	June 2017	June 2017
Russia	October 2017	November 2017	October 2017	November 2017	November 2017
UAE	May 2018	May 2018	May 2018	May 2018	May 2018
Canada	October 2018	October 2018	October 2018	April 2019	April 2019

[About the Trademark System]

About the Trademark System

This is a system of trademarks which are attached to, printed on products or used to identify services in order to protect these trademarks because such trademarks indicate a certain specific function of a product or a service identified by a trademark. The system thus on the one hand protects the interests of the consumer, and on the other hand it also contributes to the development of industries through a design maintaining confidence in the operations of persons using these trademarks for advertising functions or for functions aimed at protecting the quality of products.

Definition of “Trademark”

A trademark is a mark used by a manufacturer, dealer or service provider in respect of goods or services in order to differentiate them from goods and services offered by other parties which are of the same or a similar type.

Types of Trademarks

The following trademarks are entitled to protection in Japan:
1. Character trademark
2. Figure trademark
3. Sign trademark
4. Three-dimensional trademark
5. Integrated trademark comprising two or more of character trademark,
figure trademark, sign trademark, and three-dimensional trademark
*Excerpt from the Japan Patent Office, “Procedures for Obtaining a Trademark Right”

An infringer of a trademark right or an exclusive right to use (excluding one who has committed an act that shall be deemed to constitute infringement of a trademark right or an exclusive right to use under Article 37 or Article 67) shall be punished by imprisonment with work for a term not exceeding ten years or a fine not exceeding 10,000,000 yen or combination thereof. (Trademark Act, Article 78: Crime of Infringement)
*Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications “e-Gov Law Search” “Trademark Act”