Japan: Patent Office rejects Asahi Breweries' request to name drink 'Ina Bauer'

The Patent Office has rejected an application by Asahi Breweries Ltd to name an alcoholic drink "Ina Bauer" after a figure skating move for which Olympic gold medalist Shizuka Arakawa is famous, Japan Today reported May 22.

"Such behavior to capitalize on the fame of Ms Arakawa would offend public order and morals," a Patent Office official said, adding no approval has been obtained from German figure skater Ina Bauer, the inventor of the move. Asahi filed the trademark registration application in March last year. In addition to Asahi, 12 other companies had filed applications to use Ina Bauer as a product name, according to the Patent Office. All have been turned down.