It was belatedly revealed that girl group FIFTY FIFTY, which is in conflict over exclusive contracts, registered individual trademark rights.
The agency Attrakt hoped to reconcile with the members and resume the group’s activities, but the members had already registered trademark rights individually at the time of announcing the provisional injunction application for independent activities.
According to the Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service (KIPRIS) on July 6th, FIFTY FIFTY’s Korean name was applied for trademark rights on June 19th under the names of four people, not the agency Attrakt.
Separately from Attrakt, they registered trademark rights for the Korean team name “FIFTY FIFTY”.
Besides, a total of 12 trademarks were applied under the names of members Aran (Jung Eun Ah), Keena (Song Ja Kyung), Saena (Jung Se Hyun) and Sio (Jung Ji Ho). They were categorized into categories 03 (non-medical cosmetics and toiletries), 21 (household or kitchen utensils and containers), 38 (communication service), 18 (leather and imitation leather), 35 (advertising business) and 05 (tea and nonalcoholic beverages).
Amid the confrontation between FIFTY FIFTY members and Attrakt, it was interpreted that the trademark application may have been laid down beforehand by FIFTY FIFTY members for their future activities.
In this regard, Attrakt said, “We applied for FIFTY FIFTY’s Korean trademark on May 15th as part of a business dealing with artists and performances, and followed up with another application on June 15th to cover other uses and applications of the trademark.”
They added, “(Trademark rights) registration has already been completed, and we have the right to all authority regarding FIFTY FIFTY’s trademark.”
Regarding the launch of the new trademark under the Korean name, they emphasized, “Korean and English names are treated the same, so the authority goes to us, for they have already registered it.”
Attrakt added, “We hope to resolve this case as soon as possible through amicable discussions with the artists rather than winning the provisional injunction.”
On the other hand, under the current law, the trademark rights can be exercised only with the consent of the applicant. This is why many idol groups that have filled the contract period with their agencies have not been able to use the group name even after leaving the company.
Source: Insight
