Weekly Korean IP Headlines 07.17. 2013

Korean Etnews reported on 10th, Samsung and LG are in conflict with each other because of the word ‘Unpack.’  It is considered that companies are response sensitively but the conflicting situation of smart phone market has intensified during the last few years.

Samsung claimed that LG has used the word ‘Unpack’ which used to call Samsung’s new product event and may cause the confusion for customers.  Recently, LG has sent the ‘Unpack Event’ invitation for the launching of new ‘Optimus G2.’  

As Samsung claimed, the company used the word ‘unpack’ for its new product announcement event since 2009.  Samsung has announced its major new products through ‘Unpack Event’ including ‘Galaxy S’ and ‘Galaxy Note.’

Samsung's Unpacked event 2013
 

However, the word ‘unpack’ is the common noun which means ‘open, pull, and etc.’ Therefore, the word can be used by any other companies including Samsung and LG. 

KIPO also explained that the word ‘unpack’ is a common noun, so it does not fulfill the requirements of the trademark registration.  In other words, the word can be used by anyone.  Actually, many other products and equipment have been used the word ‘unpack’ before.   

LG also explained that they used the word ‘unpack’ to deliver the easier meaning of new product announcement event and there would is a real title of the event.

LG stated that “There were many other companies used the word ‘unpack’ for the new product announcement. We will use another title for the event, and we were planning to reveal the real event title on the official invitation letter at the end of this month.”

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