‘Pengsoo·BokyemTV’ Trademark Dispute... KIPO Says “Swift Rights Registration Is the ‘Answer’”

Screenshot of the '4 O'clock Patent Office!' broadcast aired on December 26 last year on Pengsoo Bogyeom TV. Provided by the Patent Office

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) has issued a response regarding the recent trademark controversy involving Pengsoo and BogyeomTV through its YouTube channel ‘4 o’clock! This is KIPO.’

The controversy began when a third party, unrelated to the EBS character ‘Pengsoo’ and the YouTube channel ‘BogyeomTV,’ filed trademark applications.

In response, KIPO aired an episode titled ‘Pengsoo·BogyeomTV Edition’ on its own YouTube channel (4 o’clock! This is KIPO) on December 26 last year, clarifying the issue. The main point was that if it is determined that a third party filed the Pengsoo·BogyeomTV trademarks with malicious intent, the related trademarks cannot be finally registered.

KIPO explained on YouTube that "it is difficult for a third party to acquire (register) the Pengsoo trademark under the Trademark Act," and that "the rightful owner of the character (such as Pengsoo) can provide information to KIPO examiners even if a third party files the related trademark first, and can file an opposition within two months after the publication of the application."

The ‘4 o’clock! This is KIPO’ Pengsoo·BogyeomTV episode has surpassed 200,000 views since being posted on YouTube. Netizens who watched the video left comments such as “Excellent prompt handling,” and “Accurately understanding the public’s interests and needs, and even making a video. The best,” welcoming KIPO’s swift information provision.

In the Pengsoo·BogyeomTV episode, KIPO addressed public questions about the measures to take when someone else files a trademark application for a mark already in use, while also emphasizing the importance of prompt trademark application by citing the Pengsoo·BogyeomTV case, thereby resonating with netizens.

In particular, netizens expressed trust in KIPO, responsible for trademark protection, with comments like “I feel reassured hearing the explanation directly from KIPO,” and “If KIPO doesn’t protect Pengsoo, then who will?”

The latter part of the video includes introductions to trademark application information sites such as ‘Intellectual Property Exploration Life’ and ‘KIPRIS,’ as well as a surprise interview with Baek Jong-won, CEO of The Born Korea, who explains the importance of trademark rights by comparing them to a ‘birth registration.’

KIPO spokesperson Park Yong-joo said, “It seems that quickly and clearly conveying the social issue of fair use of intellectual property through video has led to public interest and consensus,” adding, “KIPO will continue to make steady efforts to create intellectual property content that the public can relate to.”

Meanwhile, ‘4 o’clock! This is KIPO’ has been posted daily at 4 p.m. on KIPO’s official YouTube channel since its first broadcast on December 10, 2018. Past episodes have featured LG Electronics Research Fellow Kim Dong-yeon, famous for inventing the Styler, actor Lee Cheon-hee, and popular YouTuber Office Worker A (Choi Seo-hee), among others.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.