#South Korea #Seoul #Kolmar Korea #UV Technology #Intercos Korea

Legal Victory for Kolmar Korea

In a significant legal triumph, Kolmar Korea has successfully concluded a long-standing lawsuit against Intercos Korea regarding the unauthorized leakage of proprietary solar care technologies. The South Korean courts ruled in favor of Kolmar, confirming the culpability of Intercos Korea, a subsidiary of the Italian cosmetic giant Intercos, and mandated the latter to bear all legal costs associated with the trial.

This ruling marks a pivotal moment in the legal proceedings, underscoring the serious nature of technological misconduct and the responsibilities it entails. Following a definitive guilty verdict by the Supreme Court of Korea in January 2024, Intercos Korea was ordered to pay extensive damages arising from its transgressions.

Background of the Case

The dispute originated when a former employee of Kolmar, referred to as A, who had been with the company for nearly ten years, transitioned to Intercos Korea in 2018. During this transfer, A illicitly extracted a wealth of research and development documents—this included critical formulation data related to proprietary sunscreen products and insights into future product development. Investigations later revealed that another former Kolmar employee, identified as B, had also participated in the misappropriation of trade secrets.

In addition to the legal ruling against Intercos Korea, the district court in Suwon imposed a fine of 5 million KRW for breaching laws concerning unfair competition and the protection of trade secrets. The court's decision reflects a robust stance against corporate malfeasance, emphasizing that companies must be held accountable for the actions of their employees, particularly when it involves the theft of intellectual property.

Implications and Future Actions

A spokesperson for Kolmar Korea stated, “This ruling is a strong testament to our commitment to holding individuals accountable for technological leaks. We are dedicated to safeguarding our fundamental technologies and R&D assets.” The company has become well-regarded for its world-class R&D capabilities within the solar care sector.

In 2022, Kolmar Korea established the UV Tech Innovation Lab, reflecting its ongoing investment in research and innovation. The company currently holds over 100 patents related to UV protection technologies and made headlines last year by developing the world's first stabilization technology for hybrid sunscreen compositions that combine both mineral and chemical UV filters.

Additionally, Kolmar was the first South Korean company to receive FDA OTC certification for its sunscreen products in 2013, further cementing its pioneer status in the global solar care market.

As Kolmar continues to bolster its R&D initiatives and intellectual property protections, it remains focused on innovating safer and more effective sunscreen solutions. The verdict against Intercos Korea is a clear message to the industry about the importance of ethical practices and respect for proprietary technologies. This legal battle may set a precedent, encouraging other companies to maintain vigilance in protecting their intellectual assets and ensuring compliance with fair competitive practices.