A court has ruled in favor of AtHome in a design dispute with Cuckoo Electronics over food waste processors.
According to legal sources, the Patent Court issued a ruling on June 25, favoring AtHome in its case against Cuckoo regarding the design of AtHome's food waste processor, 'The Plender,' and Cuckoo's 'Eco Whale.'
The court determined that the Eco Whale shares key features with The Plender, creating a similar aesthetic appeal for general consumers.
Specifically, the court noted similarities in the following aspects: the 'track (pill)' shape with a vertically elongated cylindrical form and rounded ends, the unique proportional structure between the width and length of the top surface and the height of the main body, the bifurcated top surface divided into a front opening and a rear filter cover, and the placement of a circular control button at the center of the front top.
Previously, AtHome's subsidiary, AtHome Plant Tech, registered the design of The Plender with the Korean Intellectual Property Office (now the Ministry of Intellectual Property) in 2023.
After Cuckoo completed the design registration for its food waste processor, Eco Whale, in January of last year, AtHome filed a petition in February of the same year to invalidate the design registration, citing similarities. The case was reviewed by the Patent Trial Board before being transferred to the Patent Court for final deliberation.
An AtHome representative stated, "We hope this case will lead to better protection of design, a core asset for companies, and clearer standards for creation and protection. We will continue to diligently engage in related procedures and efforts to protect intellectual property rights."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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