Consumer Agency, Intellectual Property Office, survey of 7 online shopping malls

Consumer Agency, Intellectual Property Office, survey of 7 online shopping malls

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Jeong Soo-yeon = The Korea Consumer Agency announced on the 7th that the Intellectual Property Office investigated the status of intellectual property labeling of cosmetics sold online and discovered a total of 634 cases of false labeling.

The subjects of the investigation are cosmetics sold at Naver Smart Store, Lotte On, 11th Street, SSG, Auction, Gmarket, and Coupang. The survey period is 6 weeks from last May to June 12.

This is a joint survey that takes into account the fact that the label ‘patented ingredient’ can have a significant impact on consumer choice.

Of the total 634 cases of false labeling, patent rights false labeling accounted for the majority at 98.7%, design rights accounted for 0.9%, utility model rights (a type of intellectual property rights), and trademark rights each accounted for 0.2%.

The most common type of false labeling was 'marking already extinguished rights as valid' at 81.1%.

When looking at the products detected with false labeling by type, 38.2% were hair care products. It is analyzed that the more product lines emphasize functional effects such as hair loss prevention or specific ingredients, the more frequently misrepresentation of intellectual property rights occurs in order to stimulate consumers' purchasing psychology.

Skin care products followed at 15.3%, body care products at 14.3%, and cleansing products at 10.6%.

This joint investigation is in accordance with the business agreement between the Korea Consumer Agency and the Ministry of Intellectual Property.