According to exclusive news from Bizhankook, on April 13, T1 officially submitted an application for the trademark registration of Faker/페이커 for player Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, of the League of Legends team T1, to the Korean Intellectual Property Office.
The application will be reviewed within a maximum of 3 months, and if the trademark for Faker is registered, it means that from the time the copyright law comes into effect, any use of Faker’s image or name for commercial purposes without the owner’s permission will be considered a violation of South Korean law.
This move by T1 comes right after an incident in late 2019 when a laundry detergent brand in South Korea used Faker’s image for advertising without the consent of Faker or T1. Currently, Faker is promoting over 340 brands of various sizes in South Korea across different sectors such as toys, clothing, coffee, and beverages…
After the trademark registration is successfully completed, all brands using Faker’s image without permission will be required to remove related advertising materials or compensate this player for the unauthorized use of his likeness.
T1 also added that once Faker’s exclusive brand is effective, this player will collaborate with his organization and other manufacturers to launch a line of Gaming Gear (primarily mice and keyboards) bearing his own brand.
T1’s strict action is considered necessary by South Korean copyright experts. With the growth of esports, the image and commercial value of Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok are continually rising, making him one of the most prominent names in the land of the morning calm.