Beware of Counterfeit Down Hangtags
2019-08-26
Pan-Pacific Co., Ltd. is a leader in the down industry. Since establishing Korea’s first down processing plant in 1984, we have been supplying high-quality and reliable downs to leading brands in Korea and overseas for almost four decades. In 2012, we launched the PRAUDEN brand and provided brand-specific hangtags for our products, laying the foundation for client companies and consumers to easily identify and trust the products.
Recently, however, counterfeit hangtags similar to those of PRAUDEN have emerged in the marketplace, so the market and consumers need to exercise caution.
What’s wrong with counterfeit/similar hangtags?
Packaging that allows our products to be distinguished from other products is trademarked and protected by the Trademark Act. Hangtags that identify products and brands and influence purchasing decision are also trademarked. Unauthorized use is a violation of the Trademark Act. Such action not only confuses and harms consumers but also threatens safety, which can lead to distrust of the industry as a whole, requiring caution not just by consumers but by the entire industry.
PRAUDEN’s Management
PRAUDEN is actively responding to trademark infringement in order to protect the legitimate rights of its customers and consumers, as well as its credibility and value that it has built over decades. However, in order to prevent further damage caused by hangtags that remain on the market or newly produced counterfeit hangtags, the following examples have been posted.
Counterfeit Case 
Counterfeit Certification Logo
In recent years, interest in sustainability has increased, and more and more hangtags are being designed using the relevant certification logo without authorization, or are modifying it slightly to make it look as though it were a certified product. Brands using products from these companies can be held liable for trademark infringement even though unintentional and this can adversely affect the credibility of the brand.
PRAUDEN’s hangtag can be found here, and if you find a suspicious hangtag, you can send the name of the retailer and a photo of the front and back of the hangtag to down@prauden.co.kr to check authenticity.
By Lee Su-kyung, Brand Part, PRAUDEN
