Initiative aims to prevent disputes from domestic trademark conflicts to unauthorized overseas registration
South Korea's Intellectual Property Office is moving to prevent the misrepresentation of local heritage resources' origins, both at home and abroad.
The agency announced Tuesday it has launched a "Local Heritage Resource IP Protection Support Program" and is accepting applications through July 21.
Local heritage resources — such as Jeju tangerines and Ulleungdo milk thistles — embody the historical, cultural and geographic characteristics of their regions. Unauthorized use by other regions or foreign entities can erode their value and cause economic harm.
As the global rise of hallyu has elevated the standing of K-brands, cases of unauthorized overseas trademark registration tied to Korean local heritage resources have also been increasing.
The program will analyze the geographic characteristics of heritage resources and their ties to specific regions, then provide one-stop support for securing rights both domestically and internationally. The initiative is expected to create an environment where local cooperative corporations can focus on economic activities without being drawn into future disputes.
As part of proactive governance, the program also aims to lay the groundwork for local governments to lead in managing the origin and quality of regional heritage resources, easing the trademark management burden on local cooperative corporations.
Specifically, the program supports two tracks: a review of the links between a heritage resource's natural and human factors, its reputation and other geographic characteristics, along with registration requirements, to pursue rights at home and abroad; and the development of rights-securing strategies tailored to the trademark regimes of major export markets — or planned export destinations — for heritage resources that already hold domestic trademarks. Eligibility is limited to local governments that certify and manage the quality, production methods or other characteristics of a heritage resource.
Park Jin-hwan, director general of the IP Dispute Response Bureau at the Intellectual Property Office, said local heritage resources "reflect the unique character of their regions and have strong potential to contribute to regional economic growth and the expansion of K-brands." He added that the government would "actively expand support measures to protect the rights of local heritage resources going forward."
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
