#South Korea #Seoul #Sun Care #Kolmar Korea #Intercos Korea

Kolmar Korea's Landmark Legal Win Against Intercos Korea

In a notable development in the beauty and cosmetics industry, Kolmar Korea has secured a definitive legal victory in its prolonged dispute with Intercos Korea regarding the unauthorized disclosure of its proprietary sun care technologies. This ruling, rendered by the Korean Supreme Court, underscores the gravity of technology misappropriation and establishes clear legal consequences for such actions.

The legal battle initiated when two former employees of Kolmar Korea were reported to have unlawfully taken essential research materials related to sun care formulations upon transitioning to Intercos Korea, the Korean branch of the Italian cosmetics firm. Known for its innovative work in sun care products, Kolmar asserted that these materials, particularly sunscreen formulation data and product development information, were crucial to its competitive edge in the market.

The case traces back to 2018 when one of the former employees, referred to as A, joined Intercos after nearly a decade at Kolmar. It was later discovered that A had illicitly removed sensitive R&D materials during the transition. Another ex-employee, identified as B, who also became part of Intercos Korea around the same time, allegedly collaborated in this act of misappropriation.

After a thorough investigation, the Supreme Court of Korea confirmed the guilty verdicts against both employees in January 2024, making it clear that the acts committed were not just unethical but also legally actionable under the Unfair Competition Prevention and Trade Secret Protection Act. Following these findings, in October 2024, the Suwon District Court ordered Intercos Korea to pay a fine of KRW 5 million for its involvement in this scandal.

In accordance with the court's decision, Kolmar Korea has also successfully recovered KRW 31.2 million from Intercos and one of the implicated former employees to cover the full litigation expenses incurred throughout the legal proceedings. A spokesperson for Kolmar commented, "This ruling signifies our unwavering commitment to holding violators of technology leakage accountable. We will continue to exert all necessary efforts to safeguard our vital technologies and research assets."

Recognized globally for its expertise in sun care research and development, Kolmar Korea has established itself as a leader in the industry, boasting over 100 patents related to UV protection technologies. Notably, the company made headlines in 2022 with the inception of its UV Tech Innovation Lab, which focuses on pioneering advancements in sun care technology. In 2023, Kolmar Korea made history by developing the first-ever stabilization technology for hybrid composite sunscreens that blend both mineral and chemical UV filters—a groundbreaking achievement in the cosmetics sector.

This legal victory not only reinforces Kolmar Korea’s standing in the sun care market but also sends a clear message about the importance of protecting intellectual property in the rapidly evolving beauty industry. As the landscape of cosmetics continues to change, Kolmar Korea remains at the forefront, dedicated to innovation while vigorously defending its technological assets against unauthorized appropriation.