South Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster and its parent company IiCombined Co., Ltd. are taking legal action against another Korean label. These are apparently copied designs.
In a press release from IiCombined, the brand in question was initially referred to as “Company B”. However, Korean media have since reported that it is Blue Elephant, another South Korean eyewear brand.
In the lawsuit, Gentle Monster accuses Blue Elephant of having copied at least 30 of its glasses models. The resulting designs are “highly similar” to our own products.
This conclusion was reached after an internal investigation, according to IiCombined. The company also emphasized that Gentle Monster itself does not have any business relationships with other eyewear companies. Such claims are “false and misleading”.
Back in March, IiCombined filed a request for invalidity of the designs with the Korean Intellectual Property and Appellate Office; a decision is currently pending. The company is also pursuing both civil and criminal action after a criminal complaint was filed against Blue Elephant in December last year.
At the beginning of the year, applications were also submitted for a preliminary seizure in order to secure possible claims for damages. In October, IiCombined filed another lawsuit seeking injunctive relief and damages.
Gentle Monster, founded in 2011, has made a name for itself worldwide for its distinctive products and brand experiences. Backed by LVMH’s L Catterton Asia, the Seoul-based brand cemented its presence through notable collaborations, including collaborations with Blackpink’s Jisoo, Tilda Swinton and Maison Margiela.
In contrast, Blue Elephant entered the market in 2019 as a lower-priced competitor to Gentle Monster. In a statement to The Chosun Daily, the company said: “The products complained about by Gentle Monster are not protected by relevant laws such as the Unfair Competition Law.”
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