German Traditional Snack, Schneeballen Trademark Litigation in Korea

A Schneeball is a pastry which is popular in the area of Rothenburg ob der Taubber in Germany.  The name means snowball in English, derived from its round ball-like shape.  The main ingredients are flour, eggs, sugar, and butter, cream and plum schnapps.  It is made of short crust pastry rolled into balls and decorated in the traditional fashion with icing sugar.  This snowball type crisp pasty need to crack it with its traditional wooden hammer.

© Alaskan Dude | German snack Schneeballen

In Korea, Schneeballen Korea imported German traditional snack called Schneeballen, and it became popular in a very short time.  Schneeballen Korea registered its trademark and service mark in August, 2012. 

Kipris search result of Schneeballen

After Schneeballen became popular, many other similar trademarks created by other firms.  Schneeballen Korea announced that they will take legal action against these infringers and sent warning notices to them.  Those infringed firms copied not only its trademark but also its package designs with wooden hammers.  Schneeballen Korea judged those companies infringed Schneeballen Korea’s right and sent warning notices to Schnee-pang, Schnee-berry, Schnee-kugen, Schnee-ball, Snow-Ballen, and Schneeballen House. 

Kipris search result | Smiliar trademarks of Schneeballen 

Schneeballen Korea also noted that customers misunderstood and confused infringed products with its original product.  Schneeballen Korea mentioned that they will take every legal action against all of the infringers.

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