Japanese motorbike designers who are not working for Honda have to draw even more carefully from now on, because the Japan Patent Office has granted a three-dimensional trademark registration to Honda for the shape of its Super Cub. This is the first such “patent” for an automotive product. Honda’s signature motorcycle for the masses does have distinctive, widely recognisable styling that hasn’t changed much since 1958, with only functional improvements made in the past 56 years. During the Super Cub’s long (and continuing) lifespan, more than 87 million units were sold, making it the most popular motorcycle in the world. 
0
