WIPO has published its 2021 Global Innovation Index, with brand-related activity propelling Korea into the top five of its innovation rankings for the first time.
This is the first time that a Korean court has considered whether the use of a famous person's name as part of a collaboration contract amounts to trademark use. Read more
The steady increase in applications over the past 10 years (particularly by major domestic and foreign companies) suggests that the partial design system has been a useful tool for companies seeking to strengthen their design competitiveness. Read more
WTR’s Legal Updates are written by a select panel of over 160 leading experts who analyse the latest trademark-related developments and decisions in more than 60 jurisdictions. Read more
Italian fashion company Alviero Martini, which is well known for its original products bearing a map logo sold under the mark 1A CLASSE, has successfully challenged a Korean business that was imitating its trademarks and overall business concept. Read more
In our latest round-up, we look at Nestle beginning a water brands sale, the Pakistan IP Office publishing a list of prospective geographical indications, and much more. Read more
This groundbreaking decision of the Seoul District Court substantially broadens the scope of acts that may be considered unfair competition in Korea. Read more
The South Korean Supreme Court has, for the first time, applied the "catch-all" provision of the Unfair Competition Prevention and Trade Secret Protection Act to the sale of imitation luxury fashion goods. Read more
A recent decision of the Seoul Central District Court in a case involving lookalike Chanel bags should encourage owners of products with famous shapes to consider taking more forceful steps to stop the sales of lookalikes in Korea. Read more
In our latest round-up, we look at OpSec Security introducing a new integrated authentication label, the Portuguese IP office launching an anti-counterfeiting site for kids, and much more. Read more
In our latest round-up, we look at Mr Potato Head going gender neutral, Beyond Meat signing new licensing deals, Pink Lady owner defending its trademark, and much more Read more
In a blow for licensors in South Korea, the Supreme Court has held that a distributor which sold products that it believed to have been lawfully obtained from a trademark licensee was not criminally liable for trademark infringement. Read more
As a result of this decision of the Korean Supreme Court, it is now possible for a senior trademark owner to directly assert its trademark rights against the owner of a later-filed trademark in the courts, without having to first invalidate the later-filed trademark. Read more
In a victory for The Procter & Gamble Company, the Patent Court of Korea has held that the PITERA mark is famous in South Korea, independently from the SK-II brand. Read more
Recent decisions of the Korean Supreme Court relating to K-pop and golf have shed light on the criteria that right holders must fulfil in order to seek redress under the ‘catch-all’ provision of the Unfair Competition Prevention and Trade Secret Protection Act. Read more
In a conversation with WTR, Andrew Cooke, general counsel of e-sports team Fnatic, reveals that an entire generation of e-sports athletes are waking up to the power of their IP as brands race to catch up with this rapidly evolving consumer market. Read more
Trademark experts explain the importance of distinguishing the kinds of intellectual property that royalty payments are for when importing raw materials into South Korea. Read more
In an exclusive guest post, the new commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office, Kim Yong-Rae, reveals the agency’s innovative non-core tools and services for trademark users – and those planned for the future. Read more
In our latest round-up, we look at the Benelux IP Office adding its trademark image data to the EUIPO’s TMview platform, Greece being identified as a transit point for counterfeit cosmetics, and much more. Read more
In our latest edition, we look at the Cyprus government re-securing a HALLOUMI trademark, another call for unhealthy food plain packaging, the UKIPO’s Cardiff office closing, and much more. Read more
As the data continues to be updated, we are able to get a better understanding of the extent of the coronavirus’ impact on the trademark ecosystem. Read more
In our latest round-up, we look at INTA bringing the Unreal Campaign to Lima, the UAE IP office forgoing certain fees, Stan Lee’s daughter suing POW! Entertainment, and much more. Read more
In our latest round-up, we look at Saks partnering with Authentic Brands to acquire Barneys, the Consortium for Common Food Names being granted observer status at WIPO, the UKIPO publishing advice on IP rights after Brexit, and much more. Read more
In our latest edition, we look at New Zealand joining TMclass, the Singapore IPO bolstering innovation ties with Kazakhstan, a GI deal between Switzerland and Georgia coming into force, and much more. Read more
The Long Read: As remote working has become du jour for many, WTR asks the IP offices of Canada, the European Union, Singapore, South Korea and the United Kingdom to reflect on the ups and downs of operating during a global pandemic – and what might remain of the systems developed over the past year. Read more
The Korea Intellectual Property Office’s amended guidelines intend to reflect more adequately the increasing complexity and diversity of software-related products, and thus allow applicants to secure registrations more easily. Read more
In our latest news digest, we look at an anti-monopoly committee in Uzbekistan clamping down on a Coca-Cola copy, the BBC drawing ire for perceived slogan nabbing, and much more. Read more
In our latest round-up, we look at applications rising at the Philippines IP Office, a perfume trademark battle, a debate over whether the Wikipedia brand has been tarnished by WikiLeaks, and much more. Read more
In our latest round-up, we look at the US brands with the most loyal customers, 7-Eleven taking a menswear brand to court for alleged trademark infringement, and much more. Read more
In our latest round-up, we look at a call to boycott a Hawaiian food chain over trademark enforcement, an analysis of cutting-edge technologies being developed in the fight against counterfeit food, and much more.
Trademark applications for cosmetics in Korea have increased by approximately 39.6% between 2014 and 2019, reflecting the rising global popularity of Korean products in general, including K-beauty, K-pop and K-dramas. Read more
The Korean Intellectual Property Office is now allowing requests for expedited examination as long as the applicant pays for a prior trademark search. It is expected that requests for expedited examination will rise as a result. Read more
The Korean Intellectual Property Office’s amended trademark examination guidelines, which came into effect on 1 January 2020, provide specific criteria for determining whether a mark has acquired secondary meaning. Read more
The Enforcement Regulation of the Korean Design Protection Act has recently been amended. This update summarises some of the more notable changes. Read more
In a notable decision, Korea’s Supreme Court has ruled that the mark AMERICAN UNIVERSITY was sufficiently distinctive among South Korean consumers to be registered in connection with university education services. Read more
Following a lengthy investigation, the Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office has issued criminal felony indictments against the individual founders of several Korean franchise businesses, charging them with breaches of trust.
The Global Illicit Trade Environment Index scores 84 economies on the extent that they enable or prevent illicit trade. The report contains useful insights on the anti-counterfeiting landscape.
An important amendment to South Korea’s Unfair Competition Prevention and Trade Secret Protection Act, which will come into effect in July 2018, clarifies that the trade dress of service providers is protected under the act.
@WTR_Alerts RT @KhurramHusain: Why does so much trademark fraud appear to originate from Pakistan? Fascinating answer in this piece on #Axact and it's… Read more
