Has the patented name of Congressman A become a ‘common noun’ in Japan?
Brand confusion started due to patent name infringement in Japan
Why did Congressman A’s patent name become a ‘common noun’ in Japan?
Patent name infringement is not a matter of expression,a matter of trustno see.
If the technology and brand value that a company has worked hard to build over a long period of time are casually used in another company's promotional text, at some point the customer willIt becomes impossible to distinguish between the ‘real subject’.
A, an otolaryngology clinic that had patented rhinitis surgery in Korea, was a case in which confusion arose because the name of a specific procedure that held patents in both Korea and Japan was used as a general procedure name in promotional materials for various hospitals in Japan.
As a result, the independence of the procedure was weakened, the influx of patients decreased, and the medical staff also suffered great difficulties due to loss of trust.
subject
designation
Japanese notation
Clinic A patent name
Reno Clear
リノクリア
Name of confusion/unauthorized use 1
Reno Clear
リノクリア
Similar/unauthorized use name 2
Renoclean
リノクリーン
Similar/unauthorized use name 3
Reno Care
リノケア
Misuse of patent names in Japan: ‘Communication’ is more difficult than deletion
What was more difficult than the misuse and deletion of patent names in Japan was ‘communication’
A wall of response created by language and cultural barriers
Representative A directly requested deletion, but the Japanese organization was slow to respond to emails, and even when he attempted to contact him directly, there was no progress due to differences in linguistic nuance.
What I realized at this time was, “Rather than discovering the problem,The method of persuasion is more important“Rep. A solved this problem through White Me’s Japanese patent name response service.
🗻 SERP-based monitoring and customized calling strategy for each institution
SERP-based monitoring and customized calling strategy for each institution
Main monitoring target platforms
- Google Japan / Yahoo! Japan:Search results and map exposure area
- 病院なび / Caloo / EPARKクリニック・病院:Hospital review/reservation portal
- 発言小町 / ガールズちゃんねる / 5ちゃんねる / 爆サイ.com:Japanese community and user message boards
- Ameblo / Livedoor Blog / note / Twitter(X):Personal review/viral content posting channel
White Me is based on search results in Japan,Clinic name + procedure name,Treatment name + クリニック / Japan / Tokyo / DaekyoWe collected all exposure data using keyword combinations such as:
As a result, in JapanFour medical institutions use the same procedure name without permissionand the related posts were21 casesreached.
White Me analyzes the expression method and exposure location of each institution and provides appropriate information for each case.1:1 customized calling strategydesigned.
🗻 Responding to local staff requires persuasion, not translation
Differences between unique Japanese euphemisms and cultural nuances?
Responding to local staff requires persuasion, not translation.
White Me’s Japanese professional team does not just translate,Japanese epithet written in a tone and expression acceptable to the other partyI wrote it myself.
Especially in Japan, things like ‘検討します (I will consider it)’ and ‘前向きに考えます (I will consider it positively)’ seem positive on the surface, but in reality they areeuphemism for rejectionThe word ‘cushion’ is often used.
If these linguistic features are not properly understood, there is a possibility that negotiations may be delayed or even canceled altogether.
White Me presents a legal basis, but it is not a ‘request for deletion’.‘Cooperation in providing accurate information’We approached it in a format that elicited sympathy from the other organization.
in result,3 out of 4 places were voluntarily deleted or modified, the remaining one was suggested by White Me.‘類似施術として紹介’ (marked as similar procedure)The case was closed by replacing it with .
In addition, no cases of re-exposure occurred over the next three months.
"It took too much time to go through legal procedures. White Me's method was much faster and more polite, and above all, the results were clear. Now, even when you search, the information related to our procedure name is neatly organized, so we can deliver accurate information to patients." ― Representative A ―
Business Japanese euphemisms for refusal (examples)
- To read in the morning → “We will review” → In effect rejection
- Before and after seeing → “We will review it positively” → Not doing it right now
- Once again, see it again and again. → “I’ll hold off this time” → Polite refusal
- To change, to change, to change. → “We will contact you again” → No further contact
- In the company and in the summer. → “We will review it internally” → On hold after internal discussion
- It's currently raining. → “It is difficult at this point” → Willingness to refuse
- Before and after the first day of the year, I started to tell the truth. → “We will look at it positively as a task” → No intention to proceed
[Insight] Responding to the Japanese market, this is how we must approach it
Insights into Japanese reputation response discovered by White Me
Responding to the Japanese market, this is how we must approach it
- Language Sensitivity Changes Results
Japan is a culture that does not express criticism directly. Reading the ‘euphemistic negation’ in the context was the key to negotiating power.
- Monitoring search results is the starting point for securing evidence.
Most trademark infringements are confirmed through search results on official sites or portals. Unlike community-based public opinion, official exposure was the most important in the initial response because it was used as legal basis.
- It is not a complete solution without after-sales service
Even after the case is over, White Meregular monitoring system. We have established a structure to prevent recurrence by monitoring re-exposure of procedure names, modified spellings, and spread of similar words in real time.
🗻 Main features of White Me Japanese trademark response service
Patent name infringement issue in Japan, what is needed now is ‘White Gourmet’s precise response’
Patent name infringement is not simply a misuse of promotional text. It has a direct impact on the company's technological capabilities and identity, as well as the trust of patients and consumers. Key areas of brand riskno see.
White Me is a company that can precisely interpret the linguistic subtleties and cultural context of the Japanese market.Local response experts and legal advisory networkThrough this, we address infringement issues across trademarks, brands, and content. Solve strategicallydo.
Beyond simple deletion, White Me believes in ‘sustainable brand protection’ by restoring the balance between information authenticity and expression.
Main functions of White Me Japanese patent name response service
- Precise keyword-based monitoring:Collection of search results, official pages, and portals
- Explanation and response agency for the Japanese market:Collaborative tone reflecting legal basis + cultural nuances
- Regular monitoring reports:Provides re-exposure detection, response history, and improvement guide
White Me provides a one-stop response to Japanese patent name infringement, from monitoring to deletion and follow-up management.If you have difficulty responding due to language barriers abroad, solve it with White Me right now.[Service inquiry]
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