Health training in the contactless era, training at home is increasing
- The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) states that trademark application filings related to “home training” increased 126% during the most recent 5 years -
Due to COVID-19, it has become a common scene to exercise by following an instructor’s movements while watching YouTube or a mobile app at a convenient time and place. As such home training has become a trend which can be easily enjoyed by anyone in their own home, beyond restrictions of time and space, the number of trademark applications related to home training goods is consistently increasing.
KIPO mentioned that the filing of trademark applications for goods related to home training goods (yoga mats, dumb-bells, foam rollers and kettle bells, etc.) is consistently increasing since home training can be done with or without simple equipment, regardless of time.
The number of trademark application filings related to home training in 2019 was 506 cases, which was a 126% increase compared to the last 5 years (224 cases in 2015).
< Status of trademark application filings related to home training goods>
< Development of trademark application filings related to home training goods>
** In the case of an application including a large number of designated goods, the number of filings per designated goods are duplicately calculated.
* Cattle bell: Heavy object with loop shaped handle similar to a kettle, for weight training purposes
* Pilates form roller: Stretching prop shaped of a cylindrical roller
* Gym ball: Sporting equipment for stretching the body by keeping balance using the elasticity of a ball
* Flex-band for pilates: Flex-band for pilates for helping posture correction and stretching
* Pilates toning ball: Ball-shaped pilates prop with weight which can be grabbed by a hand
* Exercise stepper: Equipment for strengthening the lower body by stepping on stairs with force
* Bolster for use in the practice of yoga: Bolster for yoga practice
* Rowing machine: Whole body equipment for executing rowing position exercise repeatedly
The number of trademark applications filings designating the above goods was 233 cases from January to May, 2020, which was an 11.5% increase compared to the number last year, 209 cases.
< Development of trademark applications related to home training goods from January to May compared to last year>
It is analyzed that with the development of social distancing caused by COVID-19, demand for goods related to home training greatly increased, and this is being reflected in the current market conditions.
By trademark applicant type, individuals took 48% (813 cases) while 39% were taken by enterprises (677 cases). Among them, small and medium-sized businesses filed 565 cases, which corresponds to 33% of all cases.
It is analyzed that the high portion of filings by individual businesses and small and medium sized businesses could be possible since the barriers to entry for manufacturing and selling the corresponding goods are not high and also since it was possible for them react rapidly and flexibly to increasing market demand.
The director of Trademark and Design Examinations at KIPO stated, “The home training related market has been rapidly developing, and due to the recent COVID-19 situation, high growth in this market is expected to continue for a while since it has become hard to access multiuse facilities”, and “According to such tendency, filings of related trademark applications will increase, so it is important to secure business competitiveness in advance by proactively occupying trademark rights to help effectively reach consumers.”
[Source: KIPO]
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