Date: Fri, 29 Mar 2024 02:11:20 +0100 (CET) Message-ID: <1905809133.24418.1711674680996@ip-10-44-162-152.eu-central-1.compute.internal> Subject: Exported From Confluence MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; boundary="----=_Part_24417_199620153.1711674680993" ------=_Part_24417_199620153.1711674680993 Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: file:///C:/exported.html
Where URLs are requested below, it is preferred that either URLs which a= re likely to remain stable over time (three years or more) are provided, or= home (main) page URLs are provided with a short explanation of how to acce= ss the corresponding information.
The term "patent" covers utility models and Supplementary Protection Cer= tificates (SPCs). Offices which issue design patents should report their de= sign patent information activities in their Annual Technical Reports on Ind= ustrial Design Information Activities.
In 2009, the number of patent applications was 163,523 representing a 4.=
2% decrease compared with the number for 2008; while the number of patent g=
rants was 56,732, representing a 32.1% decrease compared with the figure fo=
r 2008.
Similarly, there was a decline in the number of utility model applications=
and utility model grants. The number of utility model applications was 17,=
144, representing a 1.5% decrease while the number of utility model grants =
was 3,949, representing a 20.6% decrease.
http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo/user.tdf?a=3Duser.ip_info.ip_stat.BoardApp&=
;c=3D1001&catmenu=3Dm02_06_03
http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo/user.tdf?a=3Duser.eng.refermeter.BoardApp&c=
=3D1001&board_id=3Dstatistics&movePage=3Dek060300&catmenu=3Dek6=
0300
Gazette publication
PDF gazettes of Korean patents and utility models have been made available=
through KIPO=E2=80=99s website since July 2001 for quick and easy access b=
y the public. Additionally, the gazettes are offered by email to people who=
are subscribed to the email service. Further, XML-formatted versions of th=
e gazettes are produced on DVD-ROMs for distribution to 10 domestic and 11 =
foreign offices twice a month. In February 2005, the format of the DVD-ROM =
version was changed to XML from SGML format. The gazettes on patents and ut=
ility models published in 2009 contained the following:
=E2=80=A2 130,876 patent applications and 55,830 patent grants
=E2=80=A2 12,997 utility model applications and 3,906 utility model grants=
Digitization Center (Data Conversion Center)
Since January 2001, the Digitization Center has been in operation for digi=
tizing paper-based gazettes, patent applications, utility model application=
s, and intermediate documents such as amendments, written opinions, and tri=
als. The Center automatically receives applications and performs formality =
checks and data conversions on them. Delays and/or errors during the conver=
sion process are avoided through the use of state-of-the-art technologies, =
such as Multi OCR, dual key-inputs, automated verification of electronic da=
ta, and color-scanning technology for documents attached to applications. <=
br>
In 2009, the Center digitized a total of 83,652 documents. In all, about 7=
77 different kinds of paper-based documents, including 4,586 patent applica=
tions and 2,266 utility model applications were digitized.
KIPO=E2=80=99s Website (http://www.kipo.go.kr)
On KIPO=E2=80=99s website, applicants can find the following:
=E2=80=A2 Announcements about notifications that couldn=E2=80=99t be deliv=
ered due, for example, to an applicant changing his or her postal address w=
ithout informing KIPO
=E2=80=A2 Advance notice on patents expiring due to the non-payment of fee=
s
=E2=80=A2 Other notices, such as changes in laws or fees
Internet gazette search service
Since July 2001, an Internet gazette search service has been made availabl=
e through KIPO=E2=80=99s website . At the website, customers can refer to p=
ublications from the year 2006 to date in PDF format. In addition, they can=
register to receive notifications about their topics of interests through =
a push-mail service.
With the launch of the KIPOnet system in 1999, almost all Industrial Pro=
perty Right (IPR) administrative processes were computerized including the =
receiving, examining, granting and publication of applications. In 2001, we=
began sending examination results to applicants via email and SMS, publish=
ing official gazettes on the Internet, and handling most registration and o=
pposition procedures online. And in 2002, we started handling all trial-rel=
ated procedures online. From 2003 to 2004, the KIPOnet system was improved =
through the integration and re-design of its legacy subsystems, architectur=
es, databases as well as the adoption of middleware and workflows. As a res=
ult of these, 24-7 nonstop services, a work-at-home examination system, an =
online PCT e-filing system, and a real-time notification service were reali=
zed in 2005.
In 2006, we set up an infrastructure for sharing patent information and ex=
amination results with other Industrial Property Offices (IPOs) and began a=
public service for informing applicants of when their applications would b=
e examined. In addition, we continued to improve on the quality of the KIPO=
net system.
In November 2007, we started receiving patent and utility model applicatio=
ns filed through the WEB-PASS, which is a web-based e-filing system.
And starting 2008, through the WEB-PASS, applicants can submit documents r=
elated to registration, trial or other intermediate processes online. In ad=
dition, we started having automatic notifications mailed to applicants and =
handling semiconductor integrated circuit layout registration procedures on=
line.
In 2009, we improved our e-filing portal to make it a patent management po=
rtal that allows individual users to more efficiently manage their patent a=
ffairs. In addition, we developed a commercial MS-WORD-based editor to repl=
ace existing filing editors, and enhanced the fee payment system.
http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo/user.tdf?a=3Duser.html.HtmlApp&c=3D4135&am=
p;catmenu=3Dm02_01_02
http://eng.kipris.or.kr/
Data Management Center
Since May 2002, the Data Management Center has been operating to provide h=
igh-quality data through the systematic analysis of patent and utility mode=
l data stored in the KIPOnet system by digitizing those data and fixing any=
errors found in them.
In 2009, approximately 761,000 data was added to the KIPOnet system and th=
e analysis of this database was conducted for the following:
i) Data verification: 50,149 Korean gazette data of patents and utility mo=
dels; path verification of 1.2 million data of patent and utility model app=
lications; 1.1 million data of Japanese representative drawings.
ii) Data quality management: Guidelines for data management were updated a=
nd approximately 1.7 million data in the KIPOnet system were modified appro=
priately.
iii) Data transfer: For online public services, in 2009, approximately 2.8=
million raw patent data and 894,000 raw utility model data were provided t=
o the Korea Institute of Patent Information (KIPI). The KIPI serves the pub=
lic by properly packaging these raw data and making them available on the I=
nternet through a free patent information search service =E2=80=93 the Kore=
a Industrial Property Rights Information Service (KIPRIS).
iv) Media management system: In 2009, newly collected 59,036 media were re=
gistered in the Media Management Center and assigned individual ID numbers =
which were used to store them in the system.
Korean Patent Abstracts
For international information sharing and overseas protection of Korean in=
dustrial property rights, the Korean Patent Abstract (KPA), which is a publ=
ication of the abstracts of domestic patent applications and grants in Engl=
ish, has been issued on CD-ROMs since 1997. These CD-ROMs are distributed t=
o 40 IPOs including the IPO of the US, Japan, and the UK, and seven organiz=
ations including WIPO and the EPO. By the end of 2009, approximately 1.44 m=
illion patent applications had been published and built into a database.
International Patent Classification
KIPO=E2=80=99s official classification system for patents and utility mode=
ls is the International Patent Classification (IPC). Pre-classification is =
outsourced to a professional agency and each examiner checks which subgroup=
an application should be classified under.
In 2009 about 194,097 data were classified according to the 2009 IPC versi=
on. Additionally, 77,602 data related to the classes =E2=80=9CB09B, B62M, C=
12N, F16H, F24F, G01N, G01S, G08G, G12B, H01M, H04B, H04W=E2=80=9D were rec=
lassified in accordance with the 2009 IPC version.
For classifying patents and utility models according to the IPC, a hybri= d system, which consists of classification codes and complementary indexing= codes, is used.
KIPO uses the searchable SGML and XML formats for its search system. Cur= rently, KIPO=E2=80=99s examiners are able to search the full text of Korean= patent and utility model applications published as far back as 1983 and ex= amine Korean patents and utility models granted since 1947. They can also s= earch bibliographic and image data from the EPO, JPO, and USPTO, as well as= Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Taiwan, and the UK.
Along with domestic official gazettes, foreign patent data is continuous=
ly being collected from the following sources: the EPO=E2=80=99s FPD and IF=
D, the JPO=E2=80=99s Patent Gazettes, Search Master and PAJ, and the USPTO=
=E2=80=99s Patent Specifications, and from the countries listed in the prec=
eding sub-section.
For continued improvement of the quality of such data, in 2008, a portal w=
as developed for accessing the Meta Management System, Data Quality Managem=
ent System, and the Application Impact Management System. In addition, reve=
rse engineering was introduced to refine the data architecture and a workin=
g group for discussing and coordinating data quality issues was established=
. Additionally, the working group is expected to induce validation queries =
for patent data and prepare guidelines for data quality management.
As at the end of 2009, the amount of patent technology data in the KIPOnet=
search system had reached almost 140 million, comprising of about 6 millio=
n domestic patent data and 134 million foreign patent data.
Storage configuration
Depending on the importance and use of data, KIPOnet=E2=80=99s storage con=
figuration is divided into two sections: an IP administration section and a=
search section. The IP administration system uses RAID 1 for its integrate=
d database, imaging system and XML data, using 50% of the disk (the rest of=
the disk is used for mirroring), while forming a business continuous volum=
e that will facilitate quick daily backups and recovery. On the other hand,=
the search system applies RAID 5 using 75% of the disk (the rest of the di=
sk is used for parity) for large-sized images, search database, indexes, an=
d representative drawings.
Foreign data available through KIPO=E2=80=99s search system includes the=
following:
=E2=80=A2 Bibliographies: Search Master (JP/1975~), DocDB (EP/1974~), UK(1=
991~), Canada (1999~), Australia (1998~), Germany (1991~), France (1992~) <=
br>
=E2=80=A2 Abstracts: Japanese Patents (JP/1975~1996), Taiwanese Patent App=
lications (TW/2003~), Chinese Patent Applications and Granted Patents (CN/1=
985~)
=E2=80=A2 Full Texts (or full images): Japanese Patents and Utility Models=
(JP/1975~), USAPat (US/1975~), Espace A (EP/1978~), Espace-B (EP/1990~), E=
space-world (EP/1978~Nov. 2002), Impact Rule87 (Dec. 2002~), etc.
Patent Search System
The Patent Search System supports simple and convenient searches of full t=
ext data collected from the patent gazettes of foreign offices such as the =
EPO, JPO, and the USPTO, including our domestic gazette data. Due to the in=
telligent automated search functions, our examiners only need to input keyw=
ords in Korean to search prior art documents. More detailed functions are a=
s follows:
=E2=80=A2 An integrated viewer for patents and utility models enables our =
examiners to confirm a great number of search results that have been collec=
tively stored on their own computers by a personal database client.
=E2=80=A2 Meta-search function allows searching of non-patent literature c=
ategorized by technology such as theses, reports, and periodicals. It can a=
lso search multiple Internet sites and show the results on the same screen =
including electronic journals such as IEEE, ScienceDirect, and OSA.
=E2=80=A2 A matrix for IPC, F-term, USPC, E-CLA enables examiners to simul=
taneously view relevant applications for a prior art with a maximum of 30 r=
epresentative drawings.
=E2=80=A2 When a user inputs a Korean keyword, he/she can get the correspo=
nding English/Japanese results.
=E2=80=A2 The System enables KIPO examiners to conduct reserved search req=
uests and delivers the results to them through an after-hours batch work sy=
stem.
Towards a future-oriented search environment, an English to Korean transla=
tion system was incorporated into the search system and integrated search s=
ervices on both patent and non-patent literature launched. For user conveni=
ence, search system's performance was improved with the upgrade of the sear=
ch engine and the adoption of the latest Ria technology. In 2009, due to th=
e optimization of IT resources, development and management environments for=
examiners were connected closely under a new security response scheme.
Online Work-at-Home System
Since March 2005, a remote online work-at-home examination system has been=
deployed and is being used by examiners who volunteer to work from home. T=
hey are enabled to securely access the KIPOnet system from the comfort of t=
heir homes through a VPN, fingerprint identification system, and a governme=
nt public key infrastructure (GPKI). To prevent the leakage of undisclosed =
patent documents, Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology has been incor=
porated into the system. In 2008 and in an effort to make the work-at-home =
system more efficient and better managed, an additional system was develope=
d and incorporated into the work-at-home system. The new system facilitates=
the online receipt of applications from prospective applicants by our work=
-at-home examiners, recording of their work hours, and the management of th=
e list of undisclosed patent documents. As at the end of 2009, 89 examiners=
(approximately 12.5% of the total number of patent examiners at KIPO) were=
participating in this system.
Through an integrated interface, our examiners efficiently search non-pa= tent literature such as the databases of STN, Chemical Abstracts and IEEE A= bstracts. Every year, the scope of database is extended along with provisio= ns for an integrated user-interface. In addition, access is provided to sci= ence literatures, such as Delphion, Westlaw, ScienceDirect, and KP-Journal,= JJAP, BCSJ, ACS, OSA, CCD, Science, Nature, Wiley-Interscience, Springer, = including domestic journals such as DBPIA and KISS, via the Internet.
As at the end of 2009, KIPOnet had about 43 subsystems, some of which ar=
e listed below. Each subsystem plays an important role in managing data pro=
duced during the various phases of the IPR administrative processes, such a=
s, dealing with matters that originate in the transfer of data from one pha=
se to another and streamlining search-related administration.
General Information Management Subsystem
The General Information Management Subsystem generates a variety of statis=
tical and policy data on patents, utility models, industrial designs, and t=
rademarks by using a variety of information retained in KIPO=E2=80=99s data=
bases. The system efficiently manages large volumes of data and provides en=
d-users with various functions and tools with which to access the data.
Electronic Approval and Routing Subsystem
The Electronic Approval and Routing Subsystem enables electronic approvals=
of IPR and general administration processes. The system comprises of two m=
ajor parts: an approval system for IPR examinations that was introduced in =
1999; and an approval system for general administration that was launched i=
n June 2000. The approval system for general administration was upgraded in=
January 2004 and replaced with the Onnara System in January 2007. The Elec=
tronic Approval and Routing Subsystem is used for the following:
=E2=80=A2 Electronic approval: preparation, approval; dispatch and receipt=
of electronic documents; management of a document box; and circulation of =
documents
=E2=80=A2 Electronic mail: preparation, transmission, receipt, and managem=
ent of emails
=E2=80=A2 Electronic bulletin board: for the submission of posts and revie=
ws
=E2=80=A2 Management and preservation of records
The system has a pop-up window feature, which shows messages on the approv=
al status of documents and could be used for managing individual schedules.=
The electronic approval system was used for 99.4% of all the documents app=
roved in 2009.
Knowledge Oasis
In 2006, the Knowledge Management System that was launched in 2001, was re=
named Knowledge Oasis (KOASIS). The KOASIS does not only represent a change=
in name, but also represents a significant upgrade to the previous version=
of the system. The system is dedicated to the efficient management of a va=
riety of knowledge and information created by KIPO staff. It is for assisti=
ng them in their work, and enables them to discuss and share knowledge thro=
ugh the bulletin board of the KOASIS website. Furthermore, it offers a keyw=
ord search function for gleaning details of approved documents and allows t=
hem to utilize various management tools, such as knowledge maps, knowledge =
warehouses, personalized portals, and cyber knowledge communities.
In addition, the system enables KIPO to share ideas and knowledge with 18 =
external R&D institutes including the Electronics and Telecommunication=
s Research Institute through an online Q&A communication corner. Some h=
igh quality information posted on the KOASIS is available to the public thr=
ough KIPO=E2=80=99s homepage and private search portals like Naver. Since N=
ovember 2007, it has been linked to the Government=E2=80=99s Knowledge Mana=
gement System for more extended information sharing between government agen=
cies.
Hardware
As at the end of 2009, KIPOnet had 50 UNIX Enterprise servers, 66 NT serve=
rs, and 20 Linux servers. For higher availability, individual servers are c=
lustered for the e-filing system, IP administration system, and search syst=
em and particularly between the Homepage Server and the Portal Server. In c=
ase of system failures, the cluster paired systems temporarily substitute f=
or each other. The combined storage capacity of the 26 servers is 359 terab=
ytes including 18 SANs. The peripherals consist of 7 backup devices, 5 juke=
boxes and 349 sets of network equipment. The improvements made in terms of =
hardware performance in 2009 are as follows:
=E2=80=A2 Increased and enhanced the servers, storage equipment, and SAN s=
witch
=E2=80=A2 Replaced old legacy equipment including backup equipment
=E2=80=A2 Performed a complete overhaul of the IT resources to prevent dis=
aster including carrying out availability tests on the cluster paired serve=
rs
=E2=80=A2 Conducted disaster recovery tests on the e-filing system as well=
as on the search system
=E2=80=A2 Installed a security patch for server resources for the general =
administration system and the search system
=E2=80=A2 Set up a quality verification environment for the general admini=
stration system
Network
In 2009, to enhance the KIPOnet system and related security, we separated =
the IP administration network from the government network and replaced old =
(outdated) network equipment. We also dualized communication lines and devi=
ces for the International Intellectual Property Training Institute (IIPTI) =
and increased the number of communication lines between KIPO and the Korea =
Post. For our fee payment service, we launched an exclusive communication l=
ine to our bank and installed intrusion detection systems to prevent comput=
er hacking. Additional communication lines were introduced as follows:
=
=E2=80=A2 2Mbps * 1 lines between KIPO Headquarters and the IIPTI
=E2=80=A2 2Mbps * 1 line between KIPO Headquarters and the National Comput=
ing & Information Agency
=E2=80=A2 10Mbps * 1 line between the Seoul Branch office and the Central =
Government Complex
Software
For databases, performance tests are regularly conducted with support from=
Oracle. In addition, we continuously upgrade the backup tools, middleware,=
and web servers to improve the KIPOnet system=E2=80=99s performance and fu=
nctionality.
As at the end of 2009, about 199 commercial software applications were in =
use. The software applications can be grouped into three major groups and a=
re mostly related to database and middleware. The major groups are:
=E2=80=A2 184 perpetual licensed software including DBMS and web servers <=
br>
=E2=80=A2 7 subscription licensed software including V3
=E2=80=A2 8 packaged software for KOASIS, web mail, messenger, performance=
management, electronic approval, six sigma, and etc.
The Information Policy Bureau organizes comprehensive services for the p=
ublic by managing the IP Digital Library and the e-Filing Portal System, wh=
ile other departments support customers according to their specific duties =
and responsibilities.
e-Filing Portal System
The e-Filing Portal System was established to transform KIPO=E2=80=99s web=
site into an online service portal for the cyber community. Owing to this s=
ervice, applicants can file all the various kinds of industrial property ap=
plications online and pay the relevant fees by Internet banking. Furthermor=
e, they are informed of the legal status of their applications by e-mail an=
d/or SMS. They can request and receive certificates, download electronic do=
ssiers, such as priority certificates via the Internet and check the progre=
ss of their request. In addition, a public service for informing applicants=
in advance, of when their applications would be examined, has been made av=
ailable since October 2006. Moreover, individual applicants can check the s=
tatus of their applications through an HTML-based service titled =E2=80=9CH=
ow is my application going?=E2=80=9D while enterprises, universities, insti=
tutes and IP law firms check through a SOAP-based web service. This e-Filin=
g Portal System is linked to the WEB-PASS, which is a web-based e-filing sy=
stem used for receiving all kinds of IPR applications. In 2009, we enhanced=
its functions as an individual patent management web portal by enabling us=
ers to have their own information boxes for the enterprise management of pa=
tent information and to participate in knowledge sharing through web blogs.=
The service contents were also increased to 181 types of information from =
49 types in 2008.
IP Digital Library
The IP Digital Library located at KIPO=E2=80=99s headquarters supports its=
customers by enabling them to search for patent information in a variety o=
f formats including online, microfilm, and paper, as well as for non-patent=
literature the Library has. They could also order copies of published pate=
nt applications as filed.
Customer Service Center
To integrate scattered counseling resources and promptly provide technical=
advice, the Customer Service Center was established in March 2002. Its rol=
es can be summarized as follows:
=E2=80=A2 Counseling: procedural and technical advice on (electronic) fili=
ng, examination, registration, trial, search and use of patent information,=
as well as on the evaluation of disputes, such as IPR infringement
=E2=80=A2 Customer relationship management: customized information based o=
n the record of past phone requests and opinions collected through customer=
satisfaction surveys for better policies and promotional events
=E2=80=A2 Outreach service: informing applicants in advance that their app=
lications would be extinguished and suggests reasonable solutions
=E2=80=A2 Others: managing a quick response system that is available on th=
e Internet
Security
In terms of security, the digital signature of electronic documents is use=
d based on a public key infrastructure for encryption and decoding. To prot=
ect customers=E2=80=99 computers from external attack, a lot of security eq=
uipment such as IDS, firewall, and VPN have been deployed. Unauthorized acc=
ess to the main database is prohibited via database security tools. 24-7 En=
terprise Security Management has been introduced for security equipments an=
d servers. Also, a key logger security and a hacking-diagnostic system are =
used for protecting PCs against other risks, such as spy wares; and a singl=
e sign-on system has been implemented for tighter security in accordance wi=
th the standardized Directory Access Protocol.
The KIPOnet system won the ISO 27001 certification in 2006 in recognition =
of its highly secure web services for applicants, SecureOS for servers, ind=
ividual information protection marks, and secure site mark. Accordingly, am=
ong government departments, KIPO has consecutively won first prize in secur=
ity assessment (from 2007 to 2009) and in private information protection (f=
rom 2008 to 2009).
IP Digital Library
The IP Digital Library archives patent documents, such as bibliographic da=
ta, abstracts and full texts, in a variety of media such as paper, microfor=
m, and CD-ROM. The documents are obtained through exchange agreements with =
18 countries and 4 international organizations, including the USPTO, WIPO, =
and EPO.
The library has non-patent literatures (some of which were donated while o=
thers were purchased), which comprises of over 32,179 volumes and 536 kinds=
of periodicals related to science and technology, CD-ROMs of annual report=
s, and statistics. The collections are arranged according to their category=
and volume number. KIPO examiners and the public are allowed access to thi=
s collection. The electronic database is provided at the Internet corner of=
the IP Digital Library. The library also offers original copies of electro=
nic materials, such as electronic journals and e-books.
Cooperation between Libraries
In 1978, KIPO became a member of the Korea Institute of Science and Techno=
logy Information (KISTI), which is an institute that provides interlibrary =
loan and document delivery services on a variety of IP-related publications=
.
Since 2002, KIPO examiners have conducted online searches on over 3.45mill=
ion volumes of thesis, government publications, seminar materials, and book=
s. This is based on an agreement with the National Assembly Library to exch=
ange such information.
National Digital Science Library
KIPO is also a member of the National Digital Science Library, managed by =
KISTI. This library provides access to the academic theses and scientific j=
ournals of 454 domestic libraries and information centers.
KIPO=E2=80=99s Website
KIPO=E2=80=99s website is an information portal for its customers. General=
information on IP and some individual announcements, such as undelivered n=
otifications due to applicants changing their addresses, notice on patents =
expiring due to the non-payment of fees, etc., are available at the website=
. Also available on the website are the Internet gazette search service and=
notifications on customers=E2=80=99 areas of interests through a push-mail=
and/or an SMS service.
To facilitate access to IP information available on the website by the sic=
k, aged and/or disabled, the web technologies defined by W3C and a voice se=
rvice have been implemented. The voice service reads texts on the website o=
ut loud for the benefit of people who can either not see or read. Specifica=
lly, underprivileged users now have an easier and more comfortable access s=
ince they can scale the screen up and down; and the video files are subtitl=
ed for the benefit of those who cannot hear but can read. Additional activi=
ties to improve public services were carried out as below:
=E2=80=A2 Service contents: supplemented based on feedbacks collected from=
users through live polls and consultations
=E2=80=A2 Accessibility of services: implemented web standards to enable a=
ccess under diverse web browsing environments; introduced I-PIN for privacy=
protection; modified the homepage and simplified the menus; as well as ref=
ined domain and portal sites similar to KIPO. Above all, the domain for onl=
ine filing services was completely separated from KIPO=E2=80=99s homepage. =
The domain for online filing services is now http://www.patent.go.kr.
<=
br>
Korea Industrial Property Rights Information Service
Since January 2001, domestic IPR information (including the KPA) has been =
offered free-of-charge through the Korea Industrial Property Rights Informa=
tion Service (KIPRIS), which is available at http://www.kipris.or.kr/kor/ma=
in/main.jsp. The service also covers business method patents, up-to-date in=
formation on the legal status of applications, the full text of Korean appl=
ications and granted patents in PDF, as well as full texts of foreign paten=
ts from the US, JP, Europe, and WIPO. For foreign users, KIPRIS offers =E2=
=80=98K2E-PAT=E2=80=99 service that is a real-time machine translation serv=
ice of the full texts of Korean patents and utility models into English lan=
guage. It also offers legal status information on applications in English, =
and citation information on prior arts in the search retrieval menu. In 200=
9, the number of search hits by visitors was over 23.7 million while the nu=
mber of visits was 13.8 million. Additional achievements are as follows:
=E2=80=A2 Database of 33.6 million domestic data and 144.1 million foreign=
data
=E2=80=A2 Search services on UK, DE, and FR patents
=E2=80=A2 Online terminology dictionary available at KIPRIS
=E2=80=A2 Service improvement of international applications which have bee=
n entered into the national phase
=E2=80=A2 Extension of the scope for administrative information on foreign=
patents
IP Mart
In April 2000, the Internet Patent Mart , so-called IP-Mart, was launched =
to create opportunities for transferring patented technologies online and t=
o overcome the limitation of short-lived traditional technology fairs. The =
mart provides a variety of IP information to individual inventors and SMEs =
on promoting innovation.
In 2009, the IP-Mart database grew to 46,380 technologies with 104,710 use=
rs, while 100 technology transfers were made.
http://www.patent.go.kr
http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo/user.tdf?a=3Duser.html.HtmlApp&c=3D10004&a=
mp;catmenu=3Dm07_01_01
http://www.kipo.go.kr/en/
http://www.kipris.or.kr/kor/main/main.jsp
As at the end of 2009, patent documents were being collected from 25 off=
ices, including the EPO and WIPO. In particular, bibliographic, image, and =
full text data are regularly obtained from Australia, Canada, China, the Un=
ited Kingdom, and Taiwan as well as from the Trilateral Offices (i.e., EPO,=
JPO, and USPTO). These data are loaded into our search system for our exam=
iners=E2=80=99 reference.
IT experts meetings with the other patent offices on the use and dissemina=
tion of patent information as well as on the electronic exchange of search =
databases including priority documents are ongoing.
Dissemination of Korean patent information by K-PION
Since Korean patent documents were incorporated into the PCT minimum docum=
entation, the importance of referring to Korean patent documents when other=
IPOs perform examinations has increased. Therefore, to help examiners of f=
oreign IPOs with their examination, KIPO launched a Korean to English trans=
lation service for publications on patent/utility model applications, the s=
o-called =E2=80=9Cthe Korean Patent Information Online Network (K-PION)=E2=
=80=9D in November 2005, which is now available at http://www.k-pion.kipo.g=
o.kr.
The K-PION service is operated through a Korean-English translation engine=
customized for patent documents. It has approximately three million techni=
cal terms and sentence patterns. It enables IPO examiners who are not famil=
iar with the Korean language to easily understand Korean patent documents. =
It is available to them for free, 24/7 via the Internet through the transla=
tion of file wrapper information and a keyword search service on the KPA in=
English. Further, the service has been linked to the in-house system of th=
e EPO. Since December 8, 2008, Korean gazettes on patents and utility model=
s have been available for English keyword searches. In 2009, K-PION also st=
arted to offer search services of Korean trademarks and designs.
Trilateral Document Access Services
In collaboration with the JPO, the TDA-FWA (File Wrapper Access) system wa=
s launched for sharing examination results online with the JPO. This was do=
ne in April 2007 under a project called the Korea-Japan Patent Prosecution =
Highway. It was linked to our internal system in July of the same year. And=
in November 2008, it was extended to the USPTO in order to reduce examinat=
ion pendency period and to increase the quality of examinations conducted a=
t the IPOs; ultimately strengthening the international protection of the in=
dustries and technologies of each country. In 2009, the USPTO and KIPO unde=
rtook a pilot project for the Strategic Handling of Application for Rapid E=
xamination, through which the office of second filing awaits the search and=
examination results of the office of first filing to reduce the workload. =
The electronic exchange of priority documents with the JPO started via C=
D-ROMs in July 2001. In August 2002, the exchange channel was changed to th=
e TriNet and in April 2008, it was changed to the Trilateral Document Acces=
s (TDA) method. The TDA method fully automates the priority document exchan=
ge process and has been extended to both the USPTO (in October 2008) and th=
e EPO (in December 2008). In 2009, 10,773 priority documents were exchanged=
with the JPO, 17,152 with the USPTO and 2,322 with the EPO.
KIPO has also been electronically exchanging priority documents with WIPO =
since September 2004 and extended the electronic exchange of documents to t=
ranslations and applications under the PCT.
KIPO allows applicants to file applications either online, on paper, or = on floppy disks. All paper-based applications are converted into electronic= format. Specifications, drawings, and bibliographic data submitted to KIPO= on floppy disks are uploaded to the KIPOnet system. After implementing the= online filing system in January 1999, KIPO was able to cut its operating e= xpenses and began providing various online services, including information = referral and requests for certificates. In 2009, the e-filing rate for pate= nt applications rose to an average of 97.3% amounting to 159,156 applicatio= ns, while for utility model applications, it got up to 87.2% amounting to 1= 4,918 applications.
National IP Education Portal
The National IP Education Portal was opened in May 2002. It is managed by =
the International Intellectual Property Training Institute (IIPTI) and offe=
rs general training programs to a diverse group of people interested in IPR=
s and inventions. Trainees range from elementary school students to senior =
citizens. During the courses, experts from the industry, law, administratio=
n, and educational sectors give presentations on relevant IP information, i=
ncluding basic knowledge of IPRs. As at 2009, it had managed 137 contents a=
nd hosted approximately 242,530 users. Specifically, through the Portal, th=
e IIPTI has supported 77 universities in providing online education on IP a=
nd professional tutoring programs to students.
International Intellectual Property Training Institute
In 1987, the International Intellectual Property Training Institute (IIPTI=
) was established in Seoul as an affiliate of KIPO. It initially offered 11=
IPR training courses and then moved in February 1991, to the Daedeok Scien=
ce Valley in Daejeon with the support of WIPO and the United Nations Develo=
pment Programme. The IIPTI offers training programs depending on the target=
trainees as follows:
=E2=80=A2 Courses for government officials: given in English based on thei=
r level/grade, including the WWA DL-101 Course, courses on controversial is=
sues in IP as well as other relevant courses
=E2=80=A2 Courses for the private sector: focused on both expanding the na=
tion=E2=80=99s IP base and for raising awareness of IP. Courses mostly targ=
et patent attorneys, R&D personnel and IP staff of enterprises, towards=
cultivating IP experts and helping to secure more customized programs and =
practical exercises.
=E2=80=A2 International courses: offers about nine courses for foreign tra=
inees including the WIPO ASIA-PACIFIC Regional Seminar, courses on Korean I=
P legal systems and the KIPOnet system, etc.
=E2=80=A2 Invention education: to cultivate invention and train invention =
coaches. In 2009, a new team was entrusted with strengthening the invention=
education process for gifted students.
=E2=80=A2 Courses for enterprisers: to train business persons on future-or=
iented new growth industries, particularly by offering special courses to g=
ifted students at special centers in KAIST and POSTECH
KIPO-WIPO Joint IPR Education Projects
In conjunction with WIPO, KIPO has managed e-learning IPR courses for its =
domestic companies and universities in order to help them to create their o=
wn IP. Particularly, in collaboration with the WIPO Worldwide Academy (WWA)=
, KIPO has offered the DL-101 course that covers the main areas of IPR in E=
nglish to students of domestic universities that are affiliated with KIPO. =
Students, who take these courses, are issued with WIPO WWA and KIPO joint c=
ertificates. In 2009, six modules of the DL-101 course were developed and 2=
,550 students completed the course in 42 sessions. Further, 841 trainees fr=
om industries, R&D institutes, and patent attorney offices took the spe=
cialized course for industry in ten sessions.
PCT-ROAD
The PCT Receiving Office ADministration (PCT-ROAD), which was developed in=
conjunction with WIPO using the Korea Funds-in-Trust at WIPO in May 2005, =
supplemented the function of the PCT-EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) to e=
nable the online exchange of PCT-related documents in 2007. As at 2009, it =
has been distributed to 28 countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, South =
Africa, and Mexico. Particularly, from February 2 to 6, 2009, KIPO and WIPO=
jointly held a PCT-ROAD user training program titled =E2=80=98In-depth Tra=
ining Program on the PCT E-Processing System,=E2=80=99 targeting patent exa=
miners from five IPOs including the Philippines and Malaysia, to give them =
a better understanding of the PCT-ROAD system and thus facilitate their eff=
icient use of the PCT-ROAD.
IP Panorama
A digital IPR educational program called IP Panorama was developed in coll=
aboration with the Korea Invention Promotion Association and WIPO using ani=
mations to facilitate the learning of IPR concepts in ten fields; including=
patent information, technology trade, M&As, e-commerce, and patent dis=
putes. The program is useful for IP education and training, as well as for =
the development of human resources. It is also available in English, Hungar=
ian, Thai, and Arabic and is scheduled to be developed in UN official langu=
ages.
KIPO-APEC Training Program for IPR Information Facilitators
From August 24 to 28, 2009, KIPO in collaboration with APEC held a trainin=
g program on how to search for and use patent information. The training pro=
gram was attended by 30 IP-related officials from 15 APEC member economies.=
This course, as the second phase of the APEC Project for Training Intellec=
tual Property Right Information Facilitators using e-learning contents, IP =
Xpedite, was aimed at offering expert IP lectures and practical exercises t=
o trainees who successfully completed the online course (first phase) of th=
e project.
2009 PATINEX
To exchange information and explore more efficient strategies and tools in=
the utilization of IP information, an annual IP conference titled PATINEX =
(PATent INformation EXpo) has been held by KIPO since 2005. The conference =
provides participants with up-to-date information on the patent strategies =
of advanced enterprises, solutions and tools for using and analyzing patent=
information. In addition, it brings together IP professionals and business=
es from IPOs around the world, and creates an opportunity for a diverse set=
of IP service providers to exhibit relevant software and services that the=
y have developed.
The fifth PATINEX, which was held in November 2009, was aimed at helping e=
nterprises and R&D institutes maximize their capacity to use patent inf=
ormation and secure their competitiveness. In addition, it provided partici=
pants with a comprehensive look at the status of patent information service=
industries as well as the technologies involved. At the 5th PATINEX, there=
were lectures by intellectual property experts on methodologies for the us=
e of patent information and next generation search tools. Further, unlike i=
n the previous PATINEX, there was a panel discussion session on state-of-th=
e-art technology areas. Participants had an opportunity to grasp patent tec=
hnology trends and exemplary strategic patent portfolios.
In the exhibition venue, about 25 patent information service providers, in=
cluding LexisNexis, Em-frontier, and Anyfive, participated and were all wel=
l received by visitors.
Infrastructure Expansion for sharing IPR Information nationwide
To consult on matters and difficulties that researchers face in conducting=
R&D projects, an IPR help-desk online has been made available at http/=
/:www.ipr-guide.org since September 2005. And the use of an R&D note by=
researchers (which we started promoting in 2006) is being continually enco=
uraged to improve the capacity of researchers to develop successful patent =
strategies and yield good R&D results.
In 2009, twelve courses were offered online. In addition, customized consu=
lting services were provided to 50 R&D institutions to raise their capa=
bility of using IPR information. Those consulting services were focused on =
how they can improve by strategically using patent information. Simultaneou=
sly, National R&D IP forums were held three times and a survey was cond=
ucted to investigate the use and management of IP by researchers involved i=
n government funded R&D projects.
Survey and Analysis of Patent Statistics
To encourage the greater use of valuable patent information for R&D, a=
n analytical report titled the Patent Trends of Korea is being periodically=
published. In 2009, it reported the results of analyzing the trend of appr=
oximately 1.24 million patent applications filed from 2000 to 2009.
The data was analyzed in terms of type of applicants (domestic or foreign)=
, technology, academic field, region and company. Particularly, patent appl=
ications requested for trial were also analyzed by research entity and pate=
nt right dispute in major countries.
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1. | Classification is= allotting one or more classification symbols (e.g., IPC symbols) to a pate= nt application, either before or during search and examination, which symbo= ls are then published with the patent application. |
2. | Preclassification= is allotting an initial broad classification symbol (e.g., IPC class or su= bclass, or administrative unit) to a patent application, using human or aut= omated means for internal administrative purposes (e.g., routing an applica= tion to the appropriate examiner). Usually preclassification is appli= ed by the administration of an office. |
3. | Reclassification =
is the reconsideration and usually the replacement of one or more previousl=
y allotted classification symbols to a patent document, following a revisio=
n and the entry into force of a new version of the Classification system (e=
.g., the IPC). The new symbols are available on patent databases. <= /p> |