Korean game company NCSOFT won its second trial in a lawsuit claiming that WEBZEN mimicked its games, leading to losses. The damages awarded in the first trial were set at 1 billion won, but this increased to 16.9 billion won in the second trial. This amount is said to be the highest ever in domestic game-related disputes.
On the 27th, the Seoul High Court Civil Division 5-1 (presiding judge Song Hye-jung) ruled in favor of NCSOFT in part in the appeal over damages and injunction against WEBZEN for violating the Unfair Competition Prevention Act. The court ordered that “WEBZEN must pay 16.9 billion won to NCSOFT.” In response, WEBZEN noted that it plans to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Earlier, NCSOFT filed a lawsuit claiming that WEBZEN released the game “R2M” by imitating its game “Lineage M.” Selling products similar to widely known goods can result in civil damages and criminal penalties for violating the Unfair Competition Prevention Act.
On that day, the Seoul High Court stated, “While it is true that WEBZEN has modified some of its game content after the game’s release, we conclude that unfair competitive practices (mimicking NCSOFT’s game) continue,” and therefore upheld NCSOFT’s request for an injunction. The court asserted that WEBZEN must not allow, promote, advertise, replicate, distribute, transmit, or adapt the game offered under the name “R2M” for general users. However, the court did not accept NCSOFT's claim that WEBZEN infringed upon copyright.
Before this, NCSOFT had already won in the first trial of this case. The first trial court in 2023 ruled that “WEBZEN must pay 1 billion won to NCSOFT.” Consequently, NCSOFT raised its claim for damages to 60 billion won and filed an appeal.