"Hwang Woo-suk Trademark" to Be Protected

The label “Hwang Woo-suk” can now only be used by Seoul National University professor Hwang Woo-suk.

The Korean Intellectual Property Office announced on June 27, due to Professor Hwang’s prominence, that if another person applies for a trademark with the name “Hwang Woo-suk,” it will not be granted.

“Famous Trademark” (Article 7, Paragraph 1, Item 6 of Trademark Law) is applied in unique and exceptional situations to prevent people from using a famous person as a trademark.

Thus, in Korea, other people cannot use the name “Hwang Woo-suk” unless there is consent from professor Hwang himself.

This was decided by the Intellectual Property Office after an individual applied for a trademark for “Hwang Woo-suk Research Institute” and “Hwang Woo Suk Valley” in January for bacterial and medicine research.

Ki-Jin Lee doyoce@donga.com