By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
The beloved French classic ``The Little Prince'' is at the center of a trademark row between Korean publishers and the family foundation of the late author, Antoine de Saint-Exupery.
Kyobo Book Center, Youngpoong and other major bookstores have already removed several versions of the Little Prince from their shelves.
GLI Consulting, a Korean agent representing SOGEX, the foundation of de Saint-Exupery, told bookstores and publishing companies to stop selling copies of ``The Little Prince,'' which contains illustrations by the author and the title design. SOGEX apparently owns the trademark rights to the illustrations and the title design.
However, publishing companies are preparing to file a lawsuit to get the trademark rights for ``The Little Prince'' annulled in Korea.
GLI Consulting said SOGEX last year signed a contract with a Korean stationery company Art Deco 7321 for the exclusive rights to use the author's original illustrations.
SOGEX had asked Korean bookstores and publishers to stop using the illustrations and title design on its books. However, bookstores and publishers refused.
There are more than 90 different Korean versions of ``The Little Prince'' in circulation.
``The Little Prince'' (Le Petit Prince) was first published in 1943 by French aviator Antoine de Saint Exupery. It includes several drawings by Saint-Exupery. The book has been translated into more than 180 languages and has sold over 50 million copies around the world.
cathy@koreatimes.co.kr
