"Coway Wins Ice Water Purifier Patent Lawsuit Against Chungho Nais: 'Different Ice-Making Technology'"

Supreme Court Division 3 Upholds Appellate Ruling
11-Year Patent Dispute Comes to an End

Coway has brought an end to an 11-year legal battle by winning a patent infringement lawsuit against Chungho Nais regarding ice water purifiers. The court ultimately ruled that there was "no patent infringement," citing differences between Chungho Nais and Coway in their methods of producing cold water and ice.

According to industry sources on May 15, the Supreme Court's Third Division upheld the second-instance ruling that Coway's products did not infringe Chungho Nais's patents in a lawsuit filed by Chungho Nais seeking an injunction against patent infringement and damages.

In 2014, Chungho Nais filed a lawsuit against Coway, claiming that Coway had infringed on its patented ice water purifier technology and seeking an injunction and damages. In February 2015, the court of first instance sided with Chungho Nais and ordered Coway to pay 10 billion won in damages. However, seven years later, in July 2022, the appellate court dismissed Chungho Nais's claims, finding that the technology used in Coway's products was different from Chungho Nais's patent and did not constitute infringement. About three years later, the Supreme Court maintained the "no patent infringement" position, ultimately dismissing Chungho Nais's final appeal.

The Supreme Court upheld the appellate court's conclusion that there was no infringement, as there were differences in the methods the two companies used to produce cold water and ice. The core of Chungho Nais's patent was making ice directly from pre-chilled water, whereas Coway's products did not use this method of making ice from pre-chilled water.

This case attracted industry attention as Chungho Nais's claimed damages alone exceeded 20 billion won. While Coway argued that the patent in question was invalid, Chungho Nais responded by amending the patent, resulting in a fierce legal battle that included three decisions from the Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board, four rulings from the Patent Court and High Court, and four decisions from the Supreme Court.

Lee Joonseok, head of Coway's IP team, stated, "Given the fundamental differences in the ice-making methods of the two companies' ice water purifiers, the Supreme Court's ruling that there was no patent infringement is the natural conclusion. We are relieved that this decision can clear up any misunderstandings customers may have had about our technology, and we will continue to rigorously manage and protect our intellectual property as a leading technology company."