"Thought it was a Tokyo Banana sister brand"… Department store pop-up 'Tokyo Berry' embroiled in successive package plagiarism controversies

Combination of fruit names, central illustration, ribbon decorations, etc. are identical to the 'Tokyo Banana' package
Consumers "purchased it mistaking it for the same company's brand"… Image damage inevitable following accusations of similarity
Difficult to conclude legal design infringement, but facing moral criticism… The company remains 'silent'

Domestic fresh fruit mochi (glutinous rice cake) brand 'Tokyo Berry', which is expanding its sales network through pop-up stores in major department stores, has been embroiled in controversy over allegedly copying the package design of Japan's famous specialty product 'Tokyo Banana'. Due to the visual similarity, consumers are repeatedly mistaking the brand's origin, yet the company itself is maintaining a silent stance.

According to the distribution industry and social media (SNS) recently, Tokyo Berry has been building recognition by running consecutive pop-up stores starting with Shinsegae Department Store's Daegu branch, followed by Lotte Department Store's Gwanak, Yeongdeungpo, and Jamsil branches. Additional events are scheduled at the Dongtan branch until the 30th of this month, and the Busan main branch until the 2nd of next month.

Their main product offerings are Japanese-style mochi containing fresh fruits such as strawberries and peaches, alongside lavish individually wrapped packaging. However, as their retail footprint expands, online criticism is intensifying that the brand's name and box design cleverly borrow from 'Tokyo Banana', released in 1991 by Japan's Grapestone.

Core similarities pointed out by netizens include the naming convention and package layout. The coined naming method of attaching a fruit name after the regional name 'Tokyo', the English brand name at the top, the large fruit illustration placed centrally, the distinctive ribbon decoration wrapping the trademark, and the vertical text layout are said to directly copy Tokyo Banana's unique brand identity.

In fact, reviews from consumers are pouring in on social media expressing displeasure after realizing belatedly that it is a separate brand, stating, "I bought it thinking it was an official related brand made by the same company as Tokyo Banana."

Given that elements like ribbon decorations and fruit illustrations are commonly used in the dessert industry, it is difficult to immediately hold the brand legally responsible for trademark or design rights infringement based solely on a similar visual impression. However, as it gets labeled with a shallow copycat strategy lacking originality, a serious blow to its brand image has become unavoidable.