A preliminary injunction request filed by the celebrity management firm ‘Management Forest’ against ‘Forest Co., Ltd.’ (previously known as AfreecaTV), which runs an online broadcasting platform, has been rejected by the court.
This decision allows Forest Co., Ltd. to continue utilizing its newly acquired trademark without restrictions.
On the 4th, the 60th Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Lim Hae-ji, recognized the similarity in the business names of both organizations. However, it determined that their operational spheres differ significantly, leading to the conclusion that a close connection does not exist between the two.
The court highlighted that Management Forest focuses on managing celebrities and producing video content, while Forest Co., Ltd. specializes in running a live streaming service. This distinction indicates that they do not operate in a competitive or overlapping manner.
Furthermore, the court found the evidence presented by Management Forest insufficient to prove that their business name was sufficiently recognized or posed a notable risk of confusion among consumers. The judge noted that the broadcasting support initiatives and collaborations of Forest Co., Ltd. did not significantly intersect with those of Management Forest, thereby preventing confusion or misidentification.
Earlier, in March, Forest Co., Ltd. rebranded from Afreeca TV to enhance its global reach and to dissociate itself from the adverse connotations linked to some of its streamers.
Management Forest voiced apprehensions regarding potential harm to its reputation and the public images of its associated actors.
The Management Forest team argued that their accumulated prestige and reputation had suffered irreparably, asserting that recovery from such damages would be unfeasible, which led to their legal pursuit.
Nevertheless, the court’s judgment appears to have resolved the legal contention between the two entities for the time being.
Management Forest represents several renowned actors, such as Suzy, Jeon Do-yeon, Gong Yoo, Gong Hyo-jin, Jung Yu-mi, Seo Hyun-jin, and Nam Joo-hyuk.
Source: nate
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