[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] A company holding the copyright for the domestic animation character Robot Taekwon V won a damages lawsuit against the artist and installation company, claiming that a sculpture resembling the character infringed on their copyright.
According to the legal community on the 14th, Judge Lee Jeongkwon of the Civil Division 208 at the Seoul Central District Court recently ruled partially in favor of the plaintiff in a damages claim lawsuit filed by Robot Taekwon V Co., Ltd. against company A, which is entrusted with and operates the Gangdong-gu Recycling Center, among others.
The court stated, "Considering that Robot Taekwon V spent approximately 70 million KRW on the commercial use and production of the copyrighted work, and that the work is a modern design of a character widely known in Korea for decades." The court ordered artist B to pay 20 million KRW to Robot Taekwon V, and company A and others to jointly pay 10 million KRW with B.
Previously, in 2018, company A contracted to rent and exhibit 10 works by metal sculpture artist B, displaying some at the recycling center. Among these was an approximately 6-meter-high sculpture made from recycled car parts conveying an eco-friendly message. Robot Taekwon V claimed this infringed on their character's copyright and filed a damages lawsuit seeking about 30 million KRW.
In response, artist B argued that "I began creating sculptures in 2006, before Robot Taekwon V's copyrighted work was completed, and independently created the work without relying on that copyrighted material." Company A also claimed there was no intent or negligence regarding the infringement of exhibition rights.
However, the court ruled, "There is no evidence to support B's claim," and "Considering that the character is a widely known artistic and video copyrighted work in Korea, the claims of company A and others are difficult to accept." The court added, "However, there is no record of these parties selling the works or receiving compensation for the exhibition activities."
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