Korean "Hilton Motel" sued by Hilton for Trademark Infringement
In 2009, a Korean Motel called "Hilton Motel" had a suit filed against it in Seoul District Court by the international Hilton hotel chain (HLT International). HLT demanded that the owner of the motel, identified only as Mr. Yoon, cease using their trade name and that he pay HLT an indemnity of $25,541.
Hilton had registered both "Hilton" and its Korean equivalent as trademarks, which gave them exclusive rights to the name. HLT also announced that there are "numerous" lodging establishments in Korea that use the Hilton name illegally, and HLT was planning to bring suit against each one individually. At least one Korean hotel owner changed the name of his establishment to avoid a lawsuit. You can read more about this case at Hotel giant Hilton files lawsuit over naming rights.
If you have questions about trademarks, contact our Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida trademark attorney for legal counsel.
