High Time for Korean Startups to Ride on Digital Fever in Southeast Asia
Startup boom can be named as one of the hot issues in Southeast Asia this year. This may not sound familiar to most Koreans except for those involved in the IT industry or venture capital sectors. However, startup markets across Southeast Asia have been rapidly gaining momentums.
In fact, locally born leaders of digital economy such as Grab in Malaysia which recently acquired the Southeast Asian business unit of Uber have been acclaimed for changing the conventional industrial map in the region.
Japan’s move to protect geographical brands in China and its implication to Korea
Against this background, my wish is that my subject will play a role of a stepping stone for full-fledged exploration on this issue in the mid-long term. If government officials get practical ideas from my project and put them into actions, it will be my excellent pride. This research involves three countries in Northeast Asia.
This frontier quest will prove itself to be useful contents to all related parties in the region if relationship among Korea, Japan and China sees rooms for improvement, as a result. If so, it goes without saying that my reputation as an expert on issues of intellectual property rights will be shining.
As such, I will have more chances to study on this field and even probably draw attention internationally. On this token, an exclusive and high-quality research will be of great help not only to myself but also to the growth of my organization, Korean Academy of Commodity Science & Technology.
Japan’s move to protect geographical brands in China and its implication to Korea
After completion, my research will be published in the form of a Korean book and an English article in the journal of Korean Academy of Commodity Science & Technology in about 3 months. Whenever chances are given either at home or abroad, I will be willingly presenting my book and article to the academic field and governmental sector.
As a former journalist, I wouldn’t sit idle to promote my publications to the media as well. As emphasized above, geographical brands haven’t been the talk of the town in the Korean academic field. Scholars have failed to spare enough time in delving into the importance of the protection of geographical brands overseas.
Japan’s move to protect geographical brands in China and its implication to Korea
Needless to say, voices of requesting protection of Korean geographical brands in China will be drawing greater attention as well. In this regard, Japanese government’s recent initiatives have meaningful implication to Korea. Japan’s efforts to apply for trademarks abroad and to present guidelines at home are what Korean government should learn for its sake.
In other words, this project will address a message that Korean government need to benchmark the researched cases and to come up with necessary measures to prevent potential troubles with China with no delay.
Japan’s move to protect geographical brands in China and its implication to Korea
It is manufacturing and entertainment industry which has generated most disputes over the intellectual property rights between Korea and China. Except a few cases surrounding the use of geographical brands for Korean rice and hot pepper sauce in America, geographical brands haven’t developed themselves into big issues so far in Korea.
So studies and researches also have been focused on cases of private sectors, corporate activities in particular. However, keeping the ever-growing influence of China and recent ‘Korean Wave’ frenzy in China, it is little doubt that geographical brands will become hot-potato like issues soon.
