Korea's Supreme Court Leaves Cuckoo Food Waste Processor Design Invalidated
Photo: Greta Hoffman / Pexels
A design registration held by Korean appliance maker Cuckoo for its "Eco Whale" food waste processor has been finally invalidated. Korean media reported in mid October 2026 that the Supreme Court dismissed Cuckoo's appeal against a Patent Court judgment, leaving the registration void.
How the case moved through the system
The invalidation request was brought by At-Home, a home appliance company that sells the Minix "The Plender" food waste processor. At the first stage, the Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board (IPTAB) found Cuckoo's design not similar to the earlier design and refused to invalidate it. The Patent Court took the opposite view. It compared the dominant features of the products as a whole, including the track shaped body and its overall proportions, and held that Cuckoo's registered design was similar to the earlier design and therefore not registrable. The Supreme Court's dismissal of the appeal confirmed that result.
The damages claim
The ruling feeds directly into a separate damages action. According to Chosunbiz and the Digital Times, At-Home sued Cuckoo in June 2025 for 100 million won and plans to recalculate its claim now that the design case is over. Oral argument at the Seoul Central District Court is scheduled for 26 November. Chosunbiz also reports that Coway has raised design similarity concerns about products from other makers, which suggests that design disputes in this crowded appliance segment may continue.
Why it matters
Korea's design system examines many product categories substantively, and a registration is often seen as a strong shield. This case shows that a registered design can still fall when a later court looks at the overall impression created by the main features of the product, even after the IPTAB has upheld it. Companies that launch products in Korea that resemble a competitor's appliance should not assume that their own design registration protects them from an infringement claim.
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