• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.645-652
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• 2021

This paper analyzed the so-called 'Honey Butter Almond case', which became a hot topic by showing that the packaging design of a product can be distinguished as a recognizable trademark, not just a pattern. In the judgment, the issue was whether the discrimination power of the registered trademark and the similarity to the previously used trademark. First of all, with respect to the discrimination power of the registered trademark, the court said that the package front figure functions as an identification mark of the source, as long as the specificity of the expression method and overall composition are distinct from the commonly used. And the court said that it is difficult to say that the dominant impression is similar to the previously used trademark (the snack 'Honey Butter Chip') in terms of its name and idea. This case is acknowledging the function of the packaging design as a product label, and also acknowledging it can acquire identification as a distinctive trademark through the uniqueness of its composition and expression method.