Mobile Platform Developer SK Planet Sues Mobile Messenger Operator Kakao’s Subsidiary Loc & All Over Mobile Map Services On Monday

by Czarelli Tuason / Nov 04, 2015 11:33 PM EST

SK Planet's T-Map on Apple iTunes | By: Apple iTunes

On Monday, mobile platform developer SK Planet confirms filing a lawsuit at the Seoul Central District Court against Loc & All, mobile navigation company and subsidiary of Kakao, for the unaccredited use of its mobile map database, reported Korea Herald on Monday.

SK Planet runs mobile navigation application T-Map and offers digital map database for corporate clients. It has made its mobile app available to the public in 2011 in order for businesses to use the database and to enhance the mobile navigation industry.

According to SK Planet, Loc & All used the T-Map app from January 2011 until August 2014 under a contract between both firms. The low-cost deal granted Loc & All access to the service's map database, including background map information, point of interest information and road network data to locate the best travel routes.

After the contract expired, SK Planet gave Loc & All 13 months of grace period to remove all of their data from Loc & All's similar app called Kimgisa, which the latter was later on found to have not executed.

"We had to file a complaint since Loc & All has refused several requests to eliminate T-Map data from its mobile app," said an SK Planet official.

According to Korea Times on Monday, SK Planet demanded a $439,367 worth of compensation and released a notification to clients that Kimgisa has adapted SK Planet's map database.

"We regret that we had to file the lawsuit even after a 13-month-long grace period and repeated requests to stop the use of our database," said an SK Planet official. "In order to prevent damage to consumers who use the Kimgisa app, we plan to refrain from filing an injunction to call for an immediate blocking of the app's use."

Loc & All has also released a statement in response to SK Planet's allegations.

"We have purchased a commercial map from Korea Geospatial Information and Communication and self-developed the data, which has no relation with SK Planet's database," said Loc & All.

"We have deleted all the T Map database from the Kimgisa service as of June 30, 2015, when the contract with SK Planet to the digital map was expired," Loc & All added. "The pirate use of T Map digital map database, which SK Planet claims, has not been made, and thus there is no infringement of intellectual property."

"We cannot help but recognize SK Planet's claims and filing of the lawsuit as an act of a large enterprise blocking a start-up's growth," noted the Kakao subsidiary.