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(Photo= Yonhap news) |
[Alpha Biz= Reporter Kim Sangjin] On September 12, South Korean online video service (OTT) platform Watcha reported that it has filed a complaint with the Korean Intellectual Property Office against LG Uplus for alleged violations of the Unfair Competition Prevention and Trade Secret Protection Act. Watcha accuses LG Uplus of unauthorized use of its data.
LG Uplus had entered into a database supply contract with Watcha in January 2018 to receive data from Watcha's content recommendation and review service, WatchaPedia. The contract restricted the use of data, including ratings and comments, to U+ Mobile TV, U+ Movie Subscription, and IPTV services only.
Watcha alleges that LG Uplus violated these terms by utilizing the data for its new service, U+tv Moa, which reportedly offers a service similar to WatchaPedia. Furthermore, Watcha claims that LG Uplus acquired its core technology, data, service operation know-how, and trade secrets without compensation from July 2022 to May 2023, and has used this information for its own services.
Watcha stated, "LG Uplus is enhancing its U+tv Moa and its own OTT services by leveraging the technology and service know-how stolen under the guise of investment. This usage exceeds the scope of the DB contract and constitutes a legal violation."
In response, LG Uplus maintains that the allegations have already been reviewed and dismissed by the Fair Trade Commission and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
AlphaBIZ Kim SangJin(letyou@alphabiz.co.kr)
