Source: The Korea Herald
Date: 2010. 1. 7.
A Korean court has dismissed a trademark infringement suit filed by Burberry against a small local karaoke salon for using its name. The Daejeon District Court ruled in favor of the owner of the karaoke salon located in Cheonan, 92 kilometers south of Seoul, which the British luxury firm sought to ban from using its name, claiming unfair competition practices, and asked for 20 million won ($17,600) in compensation.
Burbbery had filed the suit last August through legal representatives here, after the owner refused to accept the company's request to stop using a signboard with Burberry's name on it, officials said.
In its ruling, the court acknowledged the fact Burberry is a globally known brand and the signboard looked similar to its trademark. However, it rejected Berburry's claim that the Korean karaoke violated fair competition.