Busan Office of Education Completely Changes School Uniform Design Amid Trademark Infringement Controversy

Busan Metropolitan Office of Education announced on the 11th that it will completely change the school uniform designs of the schools in question starting from the 2024 academic year, in relation to the controversy over trademark infringement issues involving some school uniform designs and Burberry.

Burberry raised concerns in 2019 through the Korea School Uniform Industry Association, claiming that the check patterns used in some domestic school uniforms infringed on its trademark rights and demanded corrective action.

The Korea School Uniform Industry Association reached an agreement with Burberry last May to change the designs by 2024.

Busan Office of Education.

Accordingly, the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education conducted a full survey of schools using check-patterned uniforms in April and sent photos of the fabrics used by these schools to Burberry’s legal representatives to request an accurate assessment of trademark infringement.

In June, Burberry notified that 24 schools had infringed on its trademark rights. The Busan Office of Education guided the affected schools to change their designs through procedures such as school operation committee deliberations, and by the end of July, the design changes for those schools’ uniforms were completed.

The revised designs will be applied to new students’ uniforms starting from the 2024 academic year, and Burberry has agreed not to raise issues regarding the existing designs worn by current students.

Gwak Jeong-rok, head of the Character, Physical Education, and School Meals Division at the Busan Office of Education, said, “This measure is intended to prevent damage to schools and uniform companies related to trademark infringement. We hope schools will be careful not to infringe on trademark rights when changing uniform designs, and our office will support the field through monitoring and other means.”

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