Patent Attorney Representing 'Pengsoo Trademark Hijacking' Application to Be Referred to Ethics Committee

Published 10 Jan.2020 14:13(KST)

Amid controversy over a private individual filing a trademark for the EBS character 'Pengsoo,' the Korean Patent Attorneys Association announced on the 10th that it has referred the patent attorney who filed the trademark on behalf of a third party to the Ethics Committee.

[Asia Economy Reporter Shinwon Yoon] Recently, controversy arose after a private individual filed a trademark application for the EBS character 'Pengsoo.' On the 10th, the Korean Patent Attorneys Association announced that it has referred the patent attorney who filed the trademark on behalf of a third party to the Ethics Committee.

According to the Patent Attorneys Association, at a recent standing board meeting, it was decided to refer patent attorney A, who acted as an agent for a third party rather than the actual user to file trademarks such as 'Pengsoo,' to its internal Ethics Committee. This case is seen as a violation of the patent attorney's mission to contribute to domestic industrial development and the association's code of ethics.

Meanwhile, EBS applied for trademark registration of the Pengsoo image in September last year and registered the trademark for the name 'Pengsoo' on November 20. However, a private individual, Mr. B, submitted a trademark application for the name Pengsoo in early November, before November 20.

This raised concerns among Pengsoo fans about whether they would no longer be able to see Pengsoo.

In response to the controversy, the Korean Intellectual Property Office stated via YouTube that it is difficult for a third party other than EBS to acquire the trademark rights. Article 34, Paragraph 1, Item 9 of the Trademark Act stipulates that "a trademark widely recognized by consumers as indicating another person's goods cannot be registered."