Trademark Registration: Key Considerations and Solutions Unlike patents or designs, trademarks do not protect inventions. Instead, they “select and protect” marks that hold value for branding purposes. That said, not every mark is eligible for trademark protection. Certain marks cannot be exclusively used. For example, registering product descriptions or well-known place names would confer an…
Is Design Registration Worth It? Design registration, which protects the visual appearance of products, is often perceived as less necessary and less effective than patent or trademark protection. This is because design rights have a narrow scope, making it difficult to claim infringement when even minor differences exist between designs. Moreover, the very nature of…
Understanding Trademark Protection and Non-Use Cancellation Trials Trademarks do not protect inventions; instead, they operate on a registration-based system. In other words, trademark law protects marks once they are registered, regardless of the reason they were created. However, this registration-focused system has led to issues where trademarks are preemptively registered without being used, effectively blocking…
Trademark Protection and the Risks of Imitation Trademark protection operates on a registration-based system, meaning that the law prioritizes the protection of trademarks that have been registered. Under the territorial principle, trademark laws—including the Korean Trademark Act—only recognize and enforce trademark rights within the country where the trademark is registered. This principle has led to…
Key Facts about International Patent and Design Applications Applying for and registering a patent in Korea’s major trading partners—Europe, Japan, the US, and China—can cost approximately 100 million KRW. This cost applies to just four countries, not the entire world. However, the costs for application and registration themselves are not particularly high. In most cases,…
Introducing Attorney Yeong-ran Ha: Expert in Chinese Patent and Trademark Services At Sarang IP Law Firm, we are proud to have Attorney Yeong-ran Ha, a Chinese attorney with extensive experience and expertise in intellectual property law. Attorney Yeong-ran Ha’s Background Education: Graduated from two universities in China.Work Experience: Worked at the major Chinese subsidiaries of…
The Unique Culture of Sarang IP Law Firm: Studying Our Client Companies at Monthly Conferences At Sarang IP Law Firm, we conduct regular studies of our client companies during our monthly conferences. This initiative is part of our commitment to providing tailored services and fostering deeper client relationships. Why We Study Our Clients In many…
Embracing Modern Communication for IP Services While trademarks and designs do not always require face-to-face meetings, understanding patent technologies often benefits from direct interaction. Preparing statements and clarifying complex concepts in person has traditionally been preferred for this reason. In particular, when building an IP portfolio, on-site visits to businesses have been essential. However, times…
Why Design Registration is Worth Considering Design registration, which protects the visual appearance of products, is often seen as less necessary and less effective than patent or trademark protection. This perception arises because design rights have a narrow scope, making it difficult to establish infringement when even slight differences exist between the designs. In addition,…
Trademark Protection: What You Need to Know Unlike patents or designs, trademarks do not protect inventions. Instead, they identify and safeguard marks that serve as valuable brands for businesses. However, this protection is selective—it does not apply to all marks without exception. Certain marks cannot be exclusively used. For instance, using generic product descriptions or…