Keeping companies in check: British Brand Burberry sue Korean underwear maker for violation of trademark design pattern.

British heritage brand Burberry has filed a lawsuit against Korean underwear maker SBW for allegedly copying the British luxury brand's trademark check patterns. Burberry is seeking 100 million South Korean Wons (£56,488) in damages from SBW for breach of its trademarked designs.

Burberry Korea said it issued a warning against the company for infringing its trademark rights in early January when the local underwear maker sold a slew of men’s boxers with the check patterns under the brand TRY.

Burberry is fiercely litigious, and this is not the first time the brand has faced problems in Asia. This will be the 18th lawsuit filed by the British fashion company since 2011. The UK-based luxury brand has held a trademark right for its iconic check pattern at the Korean Intellectual Property Office since 1998. 

A spokeswoman from Burberry confirmed today that “as a global luxury brand, Burberry considers the protection of its trademarks vital to the health of its business and brand. Burberry protects both its brand and its customers by defending its intellectual property rights and will always act against the abuse of its trademarks."

SBW has responded saying. "We will consider what actions to take after seeing the reasons for the complaint (from Burberry)."

The Goss-IPgirl notes, that Burberry certainly seem to be keeping companies in check. Some industry insiders question whether Burberry, whose sales have been slipping, is out to create momentum through the legal cases?

We’ll wait to see how this one unfolds…