Bio:

Tom started his intellectually property profession at an auto industry in November 1988. Dedicating in four years as production administrator at Toyota Motor Corporation, Tom transferred to the Intellectual Property Division in 1988.

His role at the company covered wide range of trademark and design works in terms of core business of Toyota and emerging activities born in an aspect of diversities. In his practices, Tom led a lot tough cases to satisfactory in trademark negotiations with domestic and non-Japanese parties, such as successfully buying-out a US trademark used as big name for SUV. As for luxury brand LEXUS and others, Tom played a key role at the company to protect the brand to prevent from free-riding, diluting and tarnishing in a course of opposition, invalidation and litigation.

Another aspect in Tom’s expertise, Tom experienced globally in the field of anti-counterfeiting activities. As a core member at the Trademark Committee of Japan Automobile Manufacturing Association Inc. (JAMA), he coordinated for committee’s members at JAMA and arranged for investigations and following raid-actions.

With legal works for the company, Tom’s role covered legislating the bylaw dealing tests about “Do’s and Don’ts“, threshold requirements to license the TOYOTA brands as a trademark and trade name which were adopted by subsidiaries.

Since January 2001, Tom started a private practice by means of merging Konishi & Co. managed by Tomimasa Konishi. This merge renamed the firm to Konishi & Nakamura. While Tom has continued dedicating in trademark practices for domestic and foreign clients, he extended his profession to consult with clients for industrial design protection in Japan and foreign countries. He has involved in for long time activities at the Industrial Designs Committee at the Japan Patent Attorney Association (JPAA). With the role at the JPAA, he leads the Industrial Designs Committee at the Japan Trademark Association (JTA).

While managing private practices, Tom is contributing as Professor at Graduate School, Kibi International University (Distance Course). Subjects in his role are design and patent laws.

History in Profession:

1984: Graduated Meiji University, Faculty of Law
1984: Toyota Motor Corporation, Intellectual Property Division (1988-2000)
2001: Konishi & Nakamura
2007-2009: Member at the Committee of Attorney Examinations governed by the Japan Patent Office (responsible for Industrial Design Law)
2012-: Professor, Graduate School, Kibi International University (Distance Course).

Admitted :

1990 Attorney
2005 Specific IP litigator

Services :

・Clearance for trademarks, trade names, industrial designs, common-laws, domain names.
・With the Japan Paten Office: Filing trademark application, Prosecution, Proceeding with Oppositions, Appeals with the Board of Appeal, Filing Observations.
・With Courts: Sue Decisions rendered by the JPO, seeking injunction and damages.
・With ADR panels at WIPO and JP. Domains: Representing clients for domain name disputes.
・Intervening negotiation for domestic and foreign clients.
・Advising trademarks and industrial designs portfolio
・Speeches

Memberships :

・Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA)
・Japan Trademark Association (JTA)
・International Trademark Association (INTA)
・Japan Design Protection Association (JDPA)

Social activities:

JPAA (Japan Patent Attorney Association)
・Chair, Industrial Design Committee, 2002-2003, 2012-2013.
・Chair, Trademark and Industrial Design Committee at the Tokai Branch, 2008-2009.
・Co-Chair, Tokai Branch, 2013-2014.

JIPA (Japan Intellectual Property Association)
・Member and Co-Chair, Trademark Committee, 1992-1999.

IIP (The Institute of Intellectual Property)
・Member, Committee of Study on the Hague Agreement for Design Protection, 2011-2012.

JTA (Japan Trademark Association)
・Chair, Industrial Design Committee, 2014 to present

Pro-Bono :

・Advisor, Business Support Center, Aichi Prefectural Government (2011 to present)

Article and Speech (since 2009) :

<Article>
･Core Tips for Brand Managing-“Let’s Get on Brand Constitution”, September 2009, Vol. 9, Business Law Journal
･Challenging Protection of Pure Product’s Shape as Trademarks, 2012, Autumn　Vol. 91, IIP Forum, Institute of Intellectual Property
･Study of Comparison: How Describe Design in Protection (Co-author), 2013, AIPPI Japan
･Overview and Subject on Non-Traditional Marks, December 19, 2013, Tokkyo News, Keizai-Sangyo Chosakai
･Japan Protection of GI for Agricultural Products, January 17, 2014, Tokkyo News, Keizai-Sangyo Chosakai
･US Protection of GI, August 25, 2015, Tokkyo News, Keizai-Sangyo Chosakai

<Speech>
･Liability of Trademark Infringement with Internet Service Providers, INTA Tokyo Forum, March 2015
･Trademark and Design Laws, Basic Learning Course in Tokai Region, June and July, 2015, Japan Intellectual Property Association
･Design Protection in the US and EU, Technical Learning Course at Japan Patent Office, November 2015