# Coupang Jacket Case: A Design Complaint Resolved within One Day One of the biggest threats to online sellers is a sudden ‘design right breach report’. Products that have been sold consistently for years can be turned into a one-day stoppage, and sales and trust can collapse simultaneously. Source: https://www.iplexlaw.co.kr/en/blog/1346442 HOME / NEWS & INSIGHTS NEWS & INSIGHTS Coupang Jacket Case: A Design Complaint Resolved within One Day One of the biggest threats to online sellers is a sudden ‘design right breach report’. Products that have been sold consistently for years can be turned into a one-day stoppage, and sales and trust can collapse simultaneously. Designs 2025.11.11 published IPLEX 3 min read IPLEX IP Law Firm One of the biggest threats to online sellers is a sudden ‘design right breach report’. Products that have been sold consistently for years can be turned into a one-day stoppage, and sales and trust can collapse simultaneously. helped resolve a Coupang jacket sales suspension within one day. This case illustrates the role of prompt legal analysis and a targeted response. Incident Overview A seller who has been selling jackets in Coupang for a long time has received a notification that “the sale is suspended due to design right infringement”. After obtaining Design Registration No. 30-1325451 for a jacket in October 2025, the owner complained to Coupang that jackets already on the market were similar to the registered design. The seller had sold the same jacket for years, but the initial explanatory response did not resolve the matter. The seller then engaged IPLEX. IPLEX’s response strategy IPLEX reviewed the case under the relevant provisions of the Design Protection Act. The response focused on four points: Grounds for invalidity Prior public disclosure and lack of creativity raised invalidity issues under Article 33 of the Design Protection Act. Enforcement of a clearly invalid right could constitute an abuse of rights. Freely usable prior-art design The same design had already been sold by multiple sellers, supporting the argument that it was a freely usable prior-art design. Limits on the effect of the design right Article 94(1) of the Design Protection Act limits the right's effect on products already present in Korea before the filing date, subject to its requirements. Prior-user rights The seller's sales since 2022 supported a claim to a statutory non-exclusive license based on prior use under Article 100. In addition to the above laws, IPLEX has systematically submitted evidence such as actual sales history, reviews before the date of registration, and similar product history of Naver Smart Store. Results: Re-approval of sales in just one day The Coupang intellectual property rights review team approved the resumption of sales within one day after receiving the patent attorney’s opinion and response form submitted by IPLEX. The result followed a structured explanation of the legal and evidentiary weaknesses in the complaint. Drawing on previous Coupang disputes, IPLEX explained the legal risks of maintaining unsupported allegations. Faster and more rational than invalidation procedures A design invalidation trial or opposition may take considerable time and cost. The appropriate route depends on the urgency and facts of the case. IPLEX recommended first responding promptly through Coupang's explanatory statement process. The completed opinion and supporting response helped lift the sales suspension within one day. Summary of the patent attorney's arguments Invalidity: prior public disclosure of the same design Proof that the same design has already been sold. Freely usable prior-art design: the product falls outside enforceable protection Prior-user rights: evidence of sales dating back three years This is a case of real success with minimal time and cost. IPLEX IP Law Firm specializes in resolving disputes related to design right, trademark right, and patent rights arising from online platforms such as Coupang, Smart Store, and Amazon. Online sellers will help you quickly eliminate intellectual property rights risks and restore normal business. Read the Korean source This article reflects the information available when it was published. Contact us to discuss your circumstances. Discuss this topic ↗ All articles TALK TO IPLEX Discuss your IP questions We consider your technology and business needs together. ↗ Contact us Newer Coupang Case: Resuming Luggage Sales after a Design Complaint ↗ Older Coupang Case: Sales Resumed within One Day after a Design Complaint ↗ Related insights Designs 2026.08.31 Coupang Case: Resuming Clothing Sales Following a Design Infringement Complaint Sales of a women’s UV-protection cardigan on Coupang were suspended following a design infringement complaint. IPLEX reviewed the evidence and submitted a patent attorney’s opinion and a response to the complaint. The suspension was lifted. ↗ Read article Designs 2026.08.28 Coupang Jewelry Case: Responding to Counterfeit and Design Infringement Allegations This case required separate analysis of alleged counterfeiting and design infringement. The counterfeiting issue concerned use of the rights holder’s mark, claims of authenticity and the overall indication of commercial source on the sales page. ↗ Read article Designs 2026.08.27 Revisiting the Design After a Sales Suspension: A Coupang Jewelry Case For online sellers, a sales suspension email is not just a notice. The product still exists, it's still in stock, and there's customer demand, but the sell button just stops. A single sentence stating that an intellectual property infringement report has been filed can result in sales disruption, advertising loss, inventory burden, and account risk for the seller. ↗ Read article - https://www.iplexlaw.co.kr/en - https://www.iplexlaw.co.kr/en/blog/category/design - https://www.iplexlaw.co.kr/forum/view/1346442 - https://www.iplexlaw.co.kr/en/contact - https://www.iplexlaw.co.kr/en/blog - https://www.iplexlaw.co.kr/en/contact - https://www.iplexlaw.co.kr/en/blog/1358269 - https://www.iplexlaw.co.kr/en/blog/1339834 - https://www.iplexlaw.co.kr/en/blog/1529903 - https://www.iplexlaw.co.kr/en/blog/1529903 - https://www.iplexlaw.co.kr/en/blog/1529001 - https://www.iplexlaw.co.kr/en/blog/1529001 - https://www.iplexlaw.co.kr/en/blog/1528238 - https://www.iplexlaw.co.kr/en/blog/1528238