Lee International

Lee International is set to launch a Trademark and Design Monitoring Center (TDMC) in 2024, dedicated to safeguarding the trademark and design rights of our esteemed international clients. Until now, Lee International has focused on ensuring the registration and complete protection of clients’ trademarks and designs in Korea. The establishment of the TDMC aims to enhance the level of service, with a particular focus on eliminating imitation trademarks and more effectively preserving the reputation and value of clients’ trademark and design rights.

Especially with regards to internationally renowned trademarks, the circulation of counterfeit products persists in Korea through various distribution channels.  To address this challenge, the TDMC plans to promptly record clients’ trademarks with the Korea Customs Service to prevent imports at the border, and enhance online monitoring capabilities to more effectively identify and address infringements on clients’ trademark rights.  

Moreover, the TDMC will actively communicate clients’ perspectives to the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO)’s ‘National Committee for Anti-counterfeiting,’ and intends to furnish information on clients’ genuine products to both the Special Judicial Police (SJP) of KIPO and the Korea Intellectual Property Protection Agency (KOIPA). This proactive approach is designed to effectively assist enforcement activities, both online and offline, ensuring the swift dissemination of accurate information about genuine products.

For your reference, KIPO announced that the SJP had apprehended 212 individuals involved in counterfeiting and confiscated approximately 117,000 counterfeit products as of November 2023.

The primary goal of the TDMC is to preserve the quality brand image and confidence embedded in clients' trademarks and designs.  This service is available to anyone seeking comprehensive protection for their trademarks registered in Korea.