# Trademark Similarity Case: IBK

Comparison of the registered and earlier service marks for financial services, including development finance, international finance, investment, guarantees, lending and accounting.

Source: https://www.iplexlaw.co.kr/en/blog/825144

HOME / NEWS & INSIGHTS NEWS & INSIGHTS Trademark Similarity Case: IBK Comparison of the registered and earlier service marks for financial services, including development finance, international finance, investment, guarantees, lending and accounting. Trademarks 2023.04.06 published IPLEX 3 min read 2009 Heo 504 Trademark registration invalidation Earlier registered Service Mark Earlier-used service mark Registered Service Mark Mark Designated Goods Class 36: development finance, international finance, investment arrangement, guarantees, new-technology business finance, lending, capital investment, mortgage finance, bond purchasing and collection, investment finance, factoring and installment financing. Loans and bill discounting for small and medium-sized enterprises under the Industrial Bank of Korea Act; acceptance of deposits and installment savings; issuance of securities and other debt instruments; research and business guidance for small and medium-sized enterprises. Class 35: business and organizational consulting, personnel-management consulting, employment and staff placement, professional business consulting, business-management assistance, business information and data services, job-information and recruitment services, temporary staffing, personnel consulting, data processing, advertising planning and agency services, distribution of advertising materials, advertising brokerage, corporate publicity, advertising design, marketing and marketing research. [Similarity of the marks] The registered mark consists of English letters. The earlier service mark combines the Korean company name with “IBK Capital Corporation” in two lines. These elements can be observed separately without creating an unnatural commercial impression. “Capital” and “Corporation” have little or no distinctiveness for the financial services, so the earlier mark may be perceived and pronounced as “IBK” alone. In that form, its pronunciation is identical to the registered mark, and the marks are similar overall. [Similarity of the designated services] The registered service mark covers business and organizational consulting, personnel-management consulting, employment and staff placement, professional business consulting, business-management assistance, business information and data services, job-information and recruitment services, temporary staffing, personnel consulting, data processing, advertising planning and agency services, distribution of advertising materials, advertising brokerage, corporate publicity, advertising design, marketing and marketing research. The earlier mark covers development and international finance, investment arrangement, guarantees, new-technology business finance, lending, capital investment, mortgage finance, bond purchasing and collection, investment finance, factoring and installment financing. The former services concern business management and personnel, whereas the latter are financial services. They differ in business scope and in providers: the financial services are subject to qualifications, conditions and financial supervision not applicable in the same way to the other services. The court found no likelihood of confusion as to the business provider and held that the designated services were not identical or similar. [Decisions] Although the marks themselves are similar, their designated services are not. The court therefore found no conflicting similarity between the service marks for those services. 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 Related service: Designs & trade marks ↗ Related service: IP disputes & appeals ↗ TALK TO IPLEX Discuss your IP questions We consider your technology and business needs together. ↗ Contact us Newer Trademark Similarity Case: THE MAGIC BULLET ↗ Older Trademark Similarity: ORGASOL versus ORAG ↗ Related insights Trademarks 2026.10.01 TikTok for confectionery: dilution can prevent registration in Korea Korean Patent Court case 2025Heo10379 explains why different goods and later commercial success did not overcome the reputation and distinctiveness of TikTok. ↗ Read article Trademarks 2026.09.30 Can Fear of a Trade Mark Dispute Justify Non-Use? Korean Supreme Court decision 2024후10504 separates an intention to launch from actual use and objective obstacles beyond the owner’s control. ↗ Read article Trademarks 2026.09.29 An App Name: A Mark for Software or for the Service It Delivers? The 010PAY decision, 2025허10405, considers actual transactions, revenue and the proper subject of Korean trade mark scope proceedings. ↗ Read article

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