[Alpha Biz= Ellie Kim] Russia’s intellectual property authority has rejected a trademark application filed by Samsung Electronics, citing similarity to existing marks held by LG Display.

According to a report by Russian legal news agency RAPSI on June 9 (local time), the rejected trademark—“Samsung IPS”—was deemed too similar to three trademarks already registered by LG Display, potentially causing confusion among consumers.

Samsung Display, an affiliate of Samsung Electronics, uses IPS (In-Plane Switching) panels in products such as monitors and TVs. The Russian authority noted that the inclusion of “IPS” in LG Display’s registered trademarks could lead to overlap and confusion if Samsung’s application were approved.

Samsung reportedly argued that “IPS” is a widely used technical term in the display industry and should be considered a generic term that cannot be monopolized by a single company. However, the objection was not accepted.

The decision comes amid signs that South Korean companies are exploring a potential return to the Russian market following their withdrawal after the Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Samsung Electronics had suspended operations at its Kaluga plant near Moscow in March 2022 due to supply chain disruptions. Similarly, LG Electronics halted product shipments and factory operations around the same period, although it partially resumed production at its home appliance plant near Moscow in March last year.

 

 

 

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