Burberry Files Trademark Infringement Lawsuit Over Its Check Pattern
14 Middle and High Schools in Jeju Using Similar Patterns
New Uniform Designs for Incoming Students Starting This Year
The design of the new student uniforms at a middle school in Jeju was suddenly changed. This came after the British luxury brand 'Burberry' raised an issue regarding trademark infringement of its iconic 'check pattern.'
According to the Jeju Provincial Office of Education on the 24th, a middle school in Jeju city, which started the new semester on the 2nd, will have incoming freshmen wear uniforms with a different design from previous years.
At first glance, the changed uniform design still features a 'check pattern uniform,' similar to the previous design. However, the check pattern on the first-year students' uniforms has narrower spacing and darker colors compared to the uniforms of second- and third-year students.
The 'Burberry Check' pattern, trademarked by the global luxury brand Burberry. [Image source=Burberry official website]
The reason the school changed the uniform design is due to Burberry's trademark infringement issue. In May of last year, the education office instructed schools in the province that used patterns similar to Burberry checks on their uniforms to change their uniform designs.
Previously, in 2019, Burberry filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against the uniform manufacturer using the check pattern. After several rounds of negotiations between Burberry and the uniform manufacturer, they agreed to use the uniform fabric with a pattern similar to the Burberry check only until 2022 and to change it starting this year.
Many middle and high school uniforms in Korea feature checkered patterns. The photo is for illustrative purposes and is not related to any specific expression in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Currently, there are a total of 14 middle and high schools in the province that wear uniforms featuring check patterns. Among them, nine schools changed their uniform designs starting last year, and this year’s freshmen are attending school in the new uniforms. The remaining five schools plan to change their designs during this year so that next year’s freshmen will wear uniforms with different patterns.
Meanwhile, Burberry, a representative British luxury fashion brand, gained fame in the 1920s by developing a unique fabric called 'gabardine.' The distinctive check pattern known today as the 'Burberry check' was established through the development of various products using gabardine fabric. Burberry also registered the Burberry check as a trademark after establishing its Korean branch in 2002.
Burberry Korea has made considerable efforts to protect the trademark rights of the Burberry check. From 2011 to 2013, Burberry filed about ten civil lawsuits related to the Burberry check trademark in Korea, including cases against several well-known domestic fashion brands such as Ssangbangwool.
At that time, Burberry emphasized, "We have a responsibility to our customers and the legitimate right to protect original designs," adding, "We will take appropriate measures worldwide to protect the company's intellectual property rights."
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