The Two-Sided Wave of 'Dubboonku' Craze: Popularity, Plagiarism and IP Gaps
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
A small Korean cookie nicknamed 'Dubboonku' (short for Dubai chewy cookie) has become a nationwide craze, drawing long lines at pop-up stores and selling out within hours. The original maker, Mont Cookie, helped popularize the bite‑sized dessert, but many other businesses—from noodle shops to convenience stores—now make and sell similar items. Because recipes and food designs are hard to protect under existing intellectual property (IP) rules, no single owner controls the Dubboonku formula. That openness boosted rapid spread and local business activity, yet caused side effects: soaring prices for imported pistachio (a key ingredient), supply shortages, and complaints that large retailers are crowding out small neighborhood vendors. Experts note that patenting a recipe requires proving novelty and technical advancement beyond subjective taste, a difficult standard. Korea has begun programs to help small businesses register trademarks and IP, aiming to prevent repeat controversies like the 2020 “Deopjuk” case (a prior recipe plagiarism dispute) and to encourage respect for creators while balancing innovation and fair competition.
