Funny and Creative Advertisement

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A criminal’s fingers are connected like he is handcuffed behind his back. This is a glue advertisement in India. The photo shows that their product is high-strength adhesive, and it is hard enough to use as handcuffs. 

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A fly’s leg is stuck between a screw and desk. The machine tool is fast enough to catch the fly’s leg when it tights a screw. This is a funny idea of BOSCH’s machine tool ad.

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This is a creative advertisement of SONY motivated by Noah’s ark and the Trojan horse. It says that their memory card size is huge like Noah’s ark and the Trojan horse.

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China, Taiwan Tel: +82-2-726-1038, 1130 | Fax: +82-2-777-7334 | global@wips.co.kr

Cho Yong-Pil, Copyright issue of his own songs

flickr.com|photo credit holy900

Cho Yong-pil is one of the best Korean singers and he gave strong influence on Korean pop history.  His songs including "Return to Busan Port", "Dear Friend" and "The Lady Outside the Window" were huge hit from 1960s to 1990s and copyright of his songs became a huge issue recently.

In 1986, the record company and he had a contract. It had a clause that the company got copyright of his songs which included the right to reproduce and distribute. Cho Yong-pil didn’t know well about the meaning of ‘copyright’ and the clause at that time, so he has paid the royalties for his own songs.

After he noticed the problem of the contract, he filed a lawsuit in 2000 to get his rights back. But the Supreme Court ruled that he should stay on the agreement he made in 1986. Fans are very upset about this issue and they want him to have his copyright back. 

DMC Tower 18th~19th Floor, 189 Sungam-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea

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Chinese Telecommunications Companies, Huawei vs. ZTE Patent Dispute

zte.com.cn

ZTE Corporation, a Chinese telecommunications equipment company, won the patent case against Huawei in Parise, Business Wire released. Huawei has been ordered to pay EUR 100,000 to ZTE.

Mr. Guo Xiaoming, the Chief Legal Officer at ZTE, said that they are pleased with the ruling by Paris court. The Paris court dismissed Huawei’s claims because of lack of novelty. 

These are the three key technical features which Huawei’s data card patent lacked novelty in.

1. The components of the USB connector were previously specified in the US2004/0048494 A1 patent in the United States

2. The elastic effect of the shaft end of the USB connector and component was previously specified in a patent filed by a company in Hangzhou, China

3. The accommodating portion of the outward casing of the USB product was covered by the 200520016967.5 patent

To read more information, click here

www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130329005077/en/ZTE-Wins-Patent-Case-Huawei-Paris-District

DMC Tower 18th~19th Floor, 189 Sungam-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea

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Haitai vs. Lotte Trademark dispute for Ice Cream Packaging

Two confectionery companies, Haitai and Lotte, is having trademark lawsuit for ice cream ‘Nougat Bar’ .  

 Haitai 'Nougat Bar'  eng.ht.co.kr (left) | Lotte 'Nougat&cream Bar' lotteconf.co.kr

Haitai Confectionery & Foods has applied for an injunction last April 19.  Haitai requested that Lotte’s ‘Nougat & Cream Bar’ cannot be used similar package to its product ‘Nougat Bar’. Nougat Bar by Haitai has been selling since 1974.   Haitai added that consumers may have confusion between 2 products, and it will be a claim for damages as well.

Lotte Confectionery responded that the word ‘Nougat’ means material of the ice cream, so the name ‘Nougat&cream Bar’ is not infringed to ‘Nougat Bar’  

the original article (Korean news website)

www.seoulfn.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=161217

DMC Tower 18th~19th Floor, 189 Sungam-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea

Global Tel: +82-2-726-1104, 1130 | Fax: +82-2-777-7334 | global@wips.co.kr

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China, Taiwan Tel: +82-2-726-1038, 1130 | Fax: +82-2-777-7334 | global@wips.co.kr

Creative idea inventions!

rately.com

This is a great idea for people who get injured arm and sick of explaining how. The arm pad has signs to explain how the person gets injured. 

http://www.yankodesign.com

This is a creative combination. A small size battery is not easy to change because the edge of battery is too tight. This see-saw battery solve the problem! It has see-saw shape that we can push or pull up easily.

yankodesign.com

This is Snip-Dip-Sip by a Korean designer. This contains coffee inside the package which can be a straw as well. We can open the top and pour the coffee contents into the water and use the empty pouch to stir the water without extra spoon.    

DMC Tower 18th~19th Floor, 189 Sungam-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea

Global Tel: +82-2-726-1104, 1130 | Fax: +82-2-777-7334 | global@wips.co.kr

Japan Tel: +82-2-726-1113, 1107 | Fax: +82-2-777-7334 | wips-jp@wips.co.kr

China, Taiwan Tel: +82-2-726-1038, 1130 | Fax: +82-2-777-7334 | global@wips.co.kr

Weekly Korean IP Headlines 04.26. 2013

CCToday reported on April 19th, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology has recognized as one of the 2012 global top 100 innovators by Thomson Reuters.  According to CCToday, KRICT is the first and the only government-sponsored research institute in Korea which has selected for the global top 100 innovators.  Click here for the original press release from KRICT.


© KRICT | The original image from KRICT

Asian Economy News reported on April 22nd, the number of patents related to natural lighting technologies has been increased recently. KIPO reported that there were only 2 cases of natural lighting technology patents in 2005, but the number grew to 24 cases in 2011.  Due to greenhouse gas emission regulation followed by UNFCCC and government’s low-carbon and green growth policy, social interest and companies’ R&D efforts also increased. Check out the detailed information here.


©  Jose and Roxanne | The place with  natural light

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Levis wins red label trademark dispute

flickr.com | photo uploaded by zoonabar

Colloseum Holidings in Swiss was sued for trademark infringement by Levi Strauss. According to The Telegraph, Levi Strauss argued that the Colloseum Holdings sold jean with red patch stitched into the back pocket which may cause confusion to the customers with LEVI’S jeans. Levi Strauss has been using the “red tab” since 1936 in US on back pockets.

Just-style.com has contacted to a spokesperson of Levi Strauss & Co and he said to just-style.com: "As the inventors of the blue jean in 1873, we at Levi Strauss & Co are always humbled and flattered that fellow apparel makers look to us as a pioneer and as a source of inspiration.   

To read more detailed information, click here

1. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10005144/Jean-maker-Levi-wins-red-label-trademark-dispute.html

2. http://www.just-style.com/news/levi-strauss-wins-red-tab-trademark-dispute_id117627.aspx

DMC Tower 18th~19th Floor, 189 Sungam-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea

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China, Taiwan Tel: +82-2-726-1038, 1130 | Fax: +82-2-777-7334 | global@wips.co.kr

Black Eyed Peas member. Will.i.am admitted Copyright Infringement

According to US magazine, a famous recording artist, will.i.am has admitted to copying beat to his new song ‘Let’s Go’.

Arty, the 23 years old young Russian producer and DJ, immediately recognized that the song by will.i.am had his beats. Arty accused will.i.am of copyright infringement on Twitter.

"I got in touch with Arty and showed it to him, did a different version to it because I asked him [to] make it newer, because I don't just want to take your song and rap over it," he said. "But in a year's time, time's gone by [and] we preferred writing over and using the [original] 'Rebound.' Something happened and the clearance ... hopefully we resolved the issue." Will.i.am said to the KISS FM after the silence, US magazine added.

DMC Tower 18th~19th Floor, 189 Sungam-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea

Global Tel: +82-2-726-1104, 1130 | Fax: +82-2-777-7334 | global@wips.co.kr

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China, Taiwan Tel: +82-2-726-1038, 1130 | Fax: +82-2-777-7334 | global@wips.co.kr

Creative Advertisements

adsoftheworld.com

This is a Helmet ad of Japanese company Honda.

A bug and a small stone are changing into a bullet and a meteorite. Both bug and stone are harmless until it gets speed. When people drive a motorcycle, small things can be dangerous because they are accelerated. This ad shows the importance of wearing a helmet. Safety first!

ibelieveinadv.com

This is a Baby Concert advertisement of Zurich Chamber Orchestra. A baby’s black pants are suggestive of musical note and the wrinkled sheets looks like music paper. These elements shows the concert is for babies effectively.

htttrendhunter.com

Post-it is one of the steady seller stationeries. The notes in the pictures are posted with tapes and the notes say ‘buy Post-it!’. Post-it contains adhesive on the edge side of the sheets individually so that notes can be attached without tapes. This ad shows how convenient to use Post-it without extra tape or glue.

DMC Tower 18th~19th Floor, 189 Sungam-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea

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China, Taiwan Tel: +82-2-726-1038, 1130 | Fax: +82-2-777-7334 | global@wips.co.kr

Seed War and Intellectual Property

Have you heard about the ‘Seed War’?


WIPS Global search result of comapny name, Monsanto

The seed industry is drastically growing, because seed is directly related to survival of human beings.  Intellectual properties associate with seed industry is beyond our imagination.  Companies like Monsanto gains an amazing amount of leverage from famers based on their perpetrated seed technologies.  Gaining a power through proertized seed is very similar to NPEs' activity in IP industry. 


Random search result of Monsanto's seed

After IMF, Korean seed companies have been in to the situation like merger and acquisition by global seed companies such as Monsanto, Syngenta, and Sakata.  Currently, Korean domestic companies’ market share is less than 1% of global seed market.  Korean seed industries and farmers even pay loyalties for Korean native radishes, cabbages, and peppers because titles of those seeds are transferred to global seed companies mentioned above. 




© Peter Kaminski | Seeds

Korean agriculture industry pays around 200 billion dollars of loyalty.  It is expected that Korean agriculture industry need to pay 7,900 billion dollars of loyalty by 2020. 

In spite of its poor circumstances, Korean agriculture industry is keep trying to do research and development.  Recently, Korean Rural Development Administration developed new variety of strawberry called ‘Goha,’ which can grow in the tropical regions.  With this newly developed seed, Korean Rural Development Administration was able to gain the leverage through its intellectual property. 


© Korean ARural Development Administration | Goha Strawberry

The seed industry requires continuous attention and management efforts in addition to intellectual property management. 

DMC Tower 18th~19th Floor, 189 Sungam-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea

Global Tel: +82-2-726-1104, 1130 | Fax: +82-2-777-7334 | global@wips.co.kr

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Fitness Technology Company Patent lawsuit

fitbit (left) fitbug (right)

Fitbug, a fitness technology company in Chicago, has filed lawsuit against its rival US company Fitbit. It claims that the name ‘Fitbit’ is similar to ‘Fitbug’, Chicagotribune reported.

Both Fitbug and Fitbit make pedometers which track users' activity range and users can monitor the data. Fitbug said to Chicagotribune that it started using its trademark since 2005 and Fitbit began distributing its competing products about four years after that. 

This is not the first lawsuit between these two companies. Click to read “BodyMedia sues Basis over alleged patentinfringement” article.

Read original articles here

articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-04-19/business/chi-fitbug-sues-fitbit-charging-patent-infringement-20130419_1_fitbit-pedometers-infringement.

mobihealthnews.com/17448/bodymedia-sues-basis-on-patent-infringement/

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Tory Burch sues an Accessory store for Trademark Infringement

toryburch.com

Tory Burch who is a famous fashion designer has sued a jewelry shop for trademark infringement, Trendingtrademarks.com reported. According to the article, New York based accessories wholesaler Bluebell has been sued for copying her signature double T monogram and selling the products with it. She claimed trademark counterfeiting, trademark infringement, trademark dilution and copyright infringement.

This is not the first lawsuit. In 2011, she won $164 million against cybersquatters selling fake Tory Burch products. The offending domain names included DiscountToryBurch.com, CheapToryBurchs.com, and Tory-Burch.us, Trendingtrademarks.com added. Both website are all closed.

Read more about this case, read articles below

trendingtrademarks.com/2013/03/26/tory-burch-files-infringement-lawsuit-against-bluebell-accessories-in-new-york/

jckonline.com/2013/03/27/tory-burch-sues-bluebell-accessories-over-tt-logo

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The differences between ® and TM

Have you seen these trademark symbols? 
There are three different trademark symbols: TM, SM, and ®. 




© Starbucks | The unique Starbucks Trademark (Sirens)

®?
The meaning of ® (acronym of Registered) ,which usually attached to the end of the brand mark, means that such trademark is registered to the patent office and have exclusive right.

In other words, this is a warning message that means “This trademark is registered to the patent office and has set-up the trademark right.  If anyone violates this trademark right by using similar or same trademark, that such person will be charged and asked criminal liability.”  

TM and SM?
TM(Trademark) and SM(Service-mark) are usually indicates “It is used as a unique symbol of such company.” Use of both TM and SM do not guarantee that the owner’s mark will be protected under trademark laws. 

While TM is usually indicates term, slogan, logo, or etc. as trademark and informs that it is unregistered trademark.  SM indicates services, such as banking services or legal services rather than tangible goods and also unregistered. 

DMC Tower 18th~19th Floor, 189 Sungam-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea

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Cartier wins $30,000 for a trademark lawsuit

flickr.com | photo credit  Georgio

A famous jewelry company, Cartier, wins almost $30,000 from a trademark lawsuit against a Shanghai-based online retailer and two Beijing-based jewelry companies, zeereport reported.

Cartier filed a lawsuit against these companies and said that the companies sold products with the term ‘Cartier classic style’ and ‘Cartier collection’ without permission. Cartier asked for 550,000 renminbi (yuan, Chinese currency), about $80,000, in damages from each company, but the Chinese companies were ordered to pay Cartier a total of 180,000 renminbi, or a little more than $29,000, zeereport  reported added.

Read more about this suit here

us.zeereport.com/breaking_news/3401-Cartier_Wins_China_Trademark_Case.html

www.globaltimes.cn/content/773460.shtml#.UXCes6LmNqc

DMC Tower 18th~19th Floor, 189 Sungam-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea

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Yummie Tummie vs. Spanx, Women Shapewear Design issue

 yummielife.com(left) spanx.com (right)

Women shapewear manufacturer Yummie Tummie sued its rival company Spanx for design patent infringement.

According to Worldipreview, Yummie Tummie claimed that Spanx copied their design. Yummie Tummie said that Spanx products Total Taming Tank, Top This Tank Style 1847 and Top This Cami Style 1846 are their design which is patented. Yummie Tummie seeks damages and attorneys’ fees. Spanx responded back with details how different their designs in March.

To read more about this issue, click here. 

worldipreview.com/news/yummie-tummie-accuses-spanx-of-patent-infringement

DMC Tower 18th~19th Floor, 189 Sungam-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea

Global Tel: +82-2-726-1104, 1130 | Fax: +82-2-777-7334 | global@wips.co.kr

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China, Taiwan Tel: +82-2-726-1038, 1130 | Fax: +82-2-777-7334 | global@wips.co.kr

Creative Advertisement

ad.co.kr

This is one of popular snack brand Oreo’s advertisement. It used an optical illusion effect which people can see some black and white dots. Oreo has black and white sides and those dots could get kids’ attention.

ad.co.kr

This advertisement made by a magazine ‘Rolling Stone’ for celebrating ‘World Day for Water’. There is a yellow submarine on desert and it is motivated from ‘Yellow Submarine’ by Beatles. The ad indicates that there will be no music if there’s no water. 

ad.co.kr

Unicef ad shows happy family’s activities when they are not watching TV. Children riding bikes, A baby with dad and a kid playing violin is reflected in the TV screen and it says there are more valuable things when TV is turned off. 

DMC Tower 18th~19th Floor, 189 Sungam-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea

Global Tel: +82-2-726-1104, 1130 | Fax: +82-2-777-7334 | global@wips.co.kr

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China, Taiwan Tel: +82-2-726-1038, 1130 | Fax: +82-2-777-7334 | global@wips.co.kr

Korean military is struggling with its high-priced IP outcomes

According to KIPO, KIPO, Korea Army, Korea Air Force, and the Korea Patent Attorneys Association signed a “Working agreement for the building of a military intellectual property ecosystem” at Gyeryongdae, where Korean Army and Air Force headquarters placed on April 8. 

The agreement is mainly for avoiding high-cost private-sector patent monopolies on military R&D. 
According to KIPO, many private companies have exclusively registered patents based on the military’s R&D outcomes. 

Korean Army and Air Force will utilize patent attorneys to improve the expertise of IP management organizations for their own.  KIP also will allow them to access its online educational resources and training to develop the knowledge and expertise of military personnel exclusively working on IP. 

To read more detailed article, click here.

DMC Tower 18th~19th Floor, 189 Sungam-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea

Global Tel: +82-2-726-1104, 1130 | Fax: +82-2-777-7334 | global@wips.co.kr

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China, Taiwan Tel: +82-2-726-1038, 1130 | Fax: +82-2-777-7334 | global@wips.co.kr