‘Kim Ha-seong VS Ohtani Showdown’ MLB Opening Game Counterfeit Crackdown

The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) will conduct a focused crackdown on counterfeit goods during the MLB (Major League Baseball) opening games held in Seoul.

The KIPO Trademark Special Judicial Police (hereinafter Trademark Police) announced on the 14th that from the 17th to the 21st of this month, they will carry out enforcement and guidance activities targeting MLB-related counterfeit goods around Gocheok Sky Dome, where the MLB World Tour Seoul series games will take place.

Counterfeit MLB-related products seized during on-site crackdown are displayed on the shelves. Provided by the Korean Intellectual Property Office

This is the first time an MLB regular season opening game is held in Korea. Notably, famous players such as Kim Ha-seong (San Diego Padres) and Shohei Ohtani (LA Dodgers) are participating in large numbers, drawing intense attention from baseball fans both domestically and internationally.

Considering this high level of interest, MLB has requested KIPO to crack down on counterfeit goods around the stadium area. The Trademark Police plan to patrol areas with frequent spectator movement, such as subway stations and main stadium entrances, during the game period to conduct enforcement activities.

Additionally, they will inform domestic and international spectators visiting the stadium about the importance of intellectual property and use this major sports event, which will be broadcast live worldwide, as an opportunity to promote South Korea’s commitment and efforts to protect intellectual property rights overseas.

Prior to the full-scale enforcement activities, the Trademark Police conducted focused crackdowns last month on seven wholesale clothing stores around Dongdaemun and Namdaemun in Seoul, resulting in the non-custodial indictment of seven wholesalers, including Mr. A, for selling MLB-related counterfeit goods in violation of the Trademark Act.

Starting this month, to preemptively block the distribution of MLB-related counterfeit goods sold online, they have strengthened online monitoring and, in cooperation with online platform companies, deleted a total of 366 posts and accounts selling counterfeit goods.

Based on information collected during monitoring, the Trademark Police also plan to conduct planned investigations targeting distributors who have been selling counterfeit goods on a large scale and habitually.

Jung In-sik, Director of the Industrial Property Protection Cooperation Bureau at KIPO, said, “The MLB Seoul games are attracting the attention of baseball fans both domestically and internationally. The Trademark Police will strengthen on-site enforcement and guidance activities around the stadium to prevent baseball fans from purchasing counterfeit goods and suffering damages.”

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