The Korea Professional Football League (K-League) announced on May 13 the launch of its “K-League IP License Rights Protection Center,” aimed at safeguarding the league’s brand value and intellectual property rights.
According to the league, the center will systematically manage IPs held by the K-League and its clubs to prevent rights infringement, crack down on unauthorized production and sale of merchandise, and foster a healthy consumption environment for fans. The scope of protection includes names, logos, emblems, competition titles, trophies, mascots, and designs. The league plans to monitor and take necessary action against any unauthorized production or sale of these assets, as well as activities that mislead consumers into believing unofficial products are official or authorized collaborations.
Key targets for monitoring include the unauthorized use of K-League and club IPs for product manufacturing and sales, promotion and sale of unofficial goods via personal social media or online shopping platforms, and actions that falsely represent non-licensees as official collaborators.
A K-League official stated, “As the market for K-League-related products expands, the increase in unofficial goods could cause confusion for clubs and fans. The more counterfeit items there are, the greater the potential problems down the line. This protection center is designed to respond early.” The league will also strengthen its rights protection efforts by actively encouraging tips from fans and stakeholders. {IMAGE0} {IMAGE1} {IMAGE2} {IMAGE3} 
