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Kakao Pay Non-life Insurance demanded an apology from Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance for plagiarizing its mobile membership registration UI. On the 26th, Kakao Pay Non-life Insurance sent a letter of protest to Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance and requested measures to prevent recurrence. On the other hand, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance stated that there is no problem because the membership process is similar overall, and it seems that they will engage in a war of nerves for the time being.
A Kakao Pay Insurance official stated, “Kakao Pay’s mobile subscription process is a creative work that was created after much thought as a new insurance company to provide convenience and value creation for customers.” He added, “If cases of easily copying the will and efforts of latecomers for innovation continue like this, it will not be easy for new insurance companies to challenge and innovate in the insurance industry in the future.”
A Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance official said, “The insurance product subscription process is similar across the insurance industry. We are continuously working on reorganizing the process by reflecting the results of customer research and interviews to provide a more convenient insurance environment for consumers.”
Kakao Pay shared images and videos comparing the sign-up process for the two services. Except for the subtle graphic styles and wording, the process and expressions are all the same.
UI is not subject to copyright as strongly as other creative fields because it is difficult to overcome the limitations of the device and platform OS used. This is to avoid a specific company monopolizing the 'method of using the tool'. Since mobile applications are closer to tools for solving problems than creations for enjoyment, it is common to imitate references to solve existing problems.
But even if it is not set by law, there is a line that must be kept. This controversy feels even more serious because it is a case where a powerful conglomerate copied the assets of a challenger who was trying to innovate. If Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance had made even a little effort to solve existing problems and provide a better experience than before, the situation would have been different.
Watching this controversy, I am increasingly concerned. I think that as the atmosphere of quick financial success becomes more and more oriented, it is becoming more and more common to do anything for profit. In addition, as AI advances, things that were previously thought unstealable can now be stolen.
It is a good direction to strive to provide a great experience for customers, but if we only replicate the results of our efforts and do not add better value, the entire industry will not grow any further. If no one takes care of the forest and makes a waterway to their house, the river will dry up.
Every Tuesday morning, a designer with 16 years of experience curated Collect design trends.
