Honda Super Cub gets Japanese 3D trademark

Honda Motorcycles have announced that the Japan Patent Office has granted its two-wheeler offering, the Super Cub a three-dimensional trademark registration. This is the first occasion that the shape and design of a motorcycle or any other offering from an automotive manufacturer has been granted a 3D trademark.

The Honda Super Cub made its debut in 1958 and multiple iterations in the form of the C50, C70 and C90 have been sold in various countries across the globe. The exceptional reliability of its engine coupled with the cheap maintenance cost meant that it sold in huge numbers in developing countries. The Honda Super Cub has been on sale in over 160 countries and until March 2014, and Honda has sold 87 million units of the two-wheeler. But its popularity has also becoming its bane as many small time manufacturers are building cheaper replicas of the Super Cub, thereby denting Honda’s image and sales.

But by getting this trademark, gives Honda the authority now to take legal action against small time manufacturers building knock-off of the iconic Super Cub. Also, the 3D trademark will be beneficial to Honda as now it can take official help of countries that are part of the World Intellectual Property Organisation to stop the production of Super Cub replicas. It is expected that other manufacturers will soon follow Honda’s path to safeguard their offerings against cheaply built replicas especially from China based companies.