The applied-for trademark consists of numbers and a symbol “7:15” written horizontally in a single row. The numbers “7” and “15” are combined with a colon (:).

The Examiner considered that the applied-for trademark indicates the time “7:15 a.m.” during the examination stage.

Even though the applied-for trademark may be regarded by consumers as indicating time, the Appeal Examiners did not find any facts through ex-officio searches that the mark “7:15” and marks consisting of two numbers in one or two digits combined with “:” have been commonly used to indicate goods’ characteristics, brief features, or advertising with the meanings of “goods to be used at a specific time” or “goods recommended for use at a specific time” in the field of the designated goods. Further, the Appeal Examiners did not find any circumstances in which consumers are unable to recognize the applied-for trademark as a distinguishing mark of the designated goods.

With the above in mind, it is difficult to say that the applied-for trademark falls under a trademark by which consumers are unable to recognize the goods as those pertaining to a business of a particular person.

Thus, the applied-for trademark should be registered.

The following trademarks filed on the same day as the applied-for trademark by the applicant were also accepted after appeals against refusals, though they were likewise rejected in the examination stage:

13:00 (JP Appl. No. 2023-143065)
18:30 (JP Appl. No. 2023-143066)