South Korean company Kakao Corp., owner of the KakaoTalk messenger, has filed an application with Rospatent to register its brand in Russia. This follows from data provided by the counterparty verification service Rusprofile.
The application lists software and mobile applications, advertising services, message transmission, social media services, and other digital services among the possible uses for the trademark. In essence, the company is securing the rights to the KakaoTalk brand within Russian jurisdiction.
KakaoTalk is one of the most popular messengers in South Korea. The application was launched in 2010 and allows users to exchange messages and make calls. The service is available on iOS, Android, and computers.
Interest in KakaoTalk in Russia has significantly increased amidst problems with familiar messengers. Earlier reports indicated that the Russian audience of the application grew by 82% after Telegram's performance slowed down. Against this backdrop, brand registration may be related to the company's desire to legally establish its presence in the market, even if a full-fledged launch or a separate strategy for Russia has not yet been announced.
