SCIT.ATR.PI.2006.KR

Annual Technical Report 2006 on Patent Information Activities submitted by Republic of Korea (SCIT/ATR/PI/2006/KR)

Where URLs are requested below, it is preferred that either URLs which are 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 access the corresponding information.

The term "patent" covers utility models and Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs). Offices which issue design patents should report their design patent information activities in their Annual Technical Reports on Industrial Design Information Activities.

I. Evolution of patent activities

Changes experienced in terms of application filings and grants with respect to the previous year

In 2006, the number of patent applications was 166,189, a 3.3% increase over 2005, while the number of patent registrations reached 120,790, a 64.3% increase over 2005.
For utility models, the number of applications reached 32,908, a 11.5% decrease over 2005, while the number of registrations was 29,736; a 9.1% decrease over 2005.

Trends or areas experiencing rapid changes with respect to the previous year

The surprising increase of patent registrations was largely due to the increase of examiners and the performance of individual examiners for patent and utility model applications. In 2005, KIPO hired 170 new examiners whose professional examination experience began as novice and increased to expert in 2006. The examination performance per examiner also rose to 338 from 255 in 2005, based on the first office action for applications.

URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide statistics related to patents

http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo2/user.tdf?a=user.eng.refermeter.BoardApp&c=1001&board_id=statistics&movePage=ek060300&catmenu=ek60300
http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo2/user.tdf?a=user.html.HtmlApp&c=3041&catmenu=m03_04_01

II. Matters concerning the generation, reproduction, distribution and use of primary and secondary sources of patent information

Publishing, printing, copying (main types of publications of the office in the field of patent information, etc.)

Gazette publication
Beginning July 2001, KIPO began posting daily PDF gazettes including granted and laid open applications of patents and utility models on its web site. This online version enabled KIPO to offer patent information to the public quickly without charge. Anyone can access relevant information on requesting gazettes through the Internet gazettes mailing service.
Additionally, CD-ROM gazettes are distributed to 32 domestic and foreign organizations twice a month, as well as master CD-ROMs of each publication is archived after the Internet gazette publication. In February 2005, KIPO changed the format of the CD-ROM version to XML from SGML.
For the year 2006, KIPO published gazettes on patents as follows:
• 135,957 patent applications
• 201 utility model applications
• 120,994 granted patents
• 30,017 registered utility models

Digitalization Center (Data Conversion Center)
In January 2001, KIPO began operating the Digitalization Center (or Data Conversion Center) for digitizing paper-based applications for patents, utility models, and intermediate documents such as amendments, written opinions, objections, registrations, trials and paper-based gazettes at its Daejeon headquarter and the Seoul branch office. The Seoul office receives 70 percent of all applications.
The Center automatically handles receiving, formality checking and data converting in the same process. By applying state-of-the-art technology such as Multi OCR, dual key-inputs, and automated verification of electronic data, the Center prevents delays or errors during the conversion process as well as color-scanning technology for documents attached to applications.
In 2006, the Center digitalized 193,961 total documents, which used a combination of 647 different kinds of paper-based documents, including 4,730 patent applications and 5,556 utility model applications. This means that the Center took 2.33 days digitalizing each document with an average of 683 documents per day.

Main types of announcements of the Office in the field of patent information

KIPO’s Web site
On KIPO’s Web site, applicants can find the following:
• Announcements of undelivered notifications due to an applicant’s change of address
• Advance notice of patent expiry due to non-payment of fees
• Other notices such as changes in laws or fees

Internet gazette search service
KIPO provided an Internet gazette search service at its web site beginning July 2001. Since three months after the publication date, anyone can freely refer to PDF documents of applications published since 2002 via the Internet at KIPO or the Korea Institute of Patent Information (KIPI) website . Applicants are also notified about their interests through a push-mail service and Short Message System (SMS).

Word processing and office automation

KIPO automated all administrative processes including receiving applications, examining, granting to publishing gazettes. In 2001, we at KIPO enabled communication of examination results to applicants via the Internet or mobile telecommunication service, published official gazettes on the Internet, and handled most registration and opposition procedures on-line. By starting development of the On-line Trial System in 2002, KIPO computerized most IPR administration.
From 2003 to 2004, in order to implement KIPOnet II, the next version of KIPOnet, we collected approximately 740 customers’ opinions through Customer Service Requests (CSRs), suggestions from external users groups, KIPOnet supporters, and other users. Consequently, with the launch of KIPOnet II in 2005, KIPO enabled nonstop service, a work-at-home examination environment, online PCT e-filing, and real-time notification service.
In 2006, KIPO established an infrastructure for sharing patent information and mutual use of examination results with other IPOs in the future and began a public service to let applicants know when their applications will be examined, continuing to increase the quality of the KIPOnet II.

(New) techniques used for the generation of patent information (printing, recording, photocomposing, etc.)

Beginning 2005, KIPO started using a two-dimensional barcode for receiving paper-based documents and digitalizing such documents.

URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide access to online publication of patent documents and gazettes, and other primary and secondary sources of patent information, including patent publication servers and download of bulk patent data

http://eng.kipris.or.kr/
http://www.kipris.or.kr/new_kipris/index.jsp

III. Matters concerning abstracting, classifying, reclassifying and indexing of technical information contained in patent documents

Abstracting, reviewing, translating

Data Management Center
Since May 2002, KIPO managed the Data Management Center to compile high-quality data through systematic analysis of patent and utility model data stored in KIPOnet by digitalizing those data and fixing some errors. In 2006, data analysis was conducted on the following:
1) Digitalization of paper-based data in the legacy system before KIPOnet launch
• Rejections: 727 patents; 114 utility models
• Registrations: 3,628 patents; 679 utility models
• Trials: 19 patents
2) Data quality management
KIPO created guidelines for data management and adjusted 7,488,000 pieces of data in KIPOnet II.
3) Data Transfer
In order to improve public data availability and accuracy, KIPO regularly provided KIPI with raw data (2,690,000 patents and 763,000 utility models in 2006). KIPI serves the public by packaging raw data, making such information available through a free patent information search service on the Internet called KIPRIS .
4) Media management system
The Center also manages information on media collected from foreign offices. It gave an individual ID number to 47,787 media works, and entered relevant information into the system in 2006.

Korean Patent Abstracts
To exchange patent information with other IPOs and to protect its nationals in foreign countries, KIPO publishes Korean Patent Abstracts (KPA) of domestic patent applications and granted patents in English on CD-ROMs since 1997. Such CD-ROMs are distributed to 37 IPOs including the U.S.A, Japan, and the United Kingdom (UK) and seven organizations including WIPO and the EPO.
By the end of 2006, KIPO published 218,000 granted patents and 601,000 patent applications.

Classification and reclassification activities; Classification system used, e.g., International Patent Classification (IPC), other classification (please indicate whether or not patent documents are classified by your Office and, if so, which classification is used)

International Patent Classification
We at KIPO use the International Patent Classification (IPC) as the official classification system. Beginning January 1, 2006, we have classified patent and utility model applications according to the 8th edition of IPC. Pre-classification is outsourced to a professional agency and each examiner checks which subgroup an application should be classified under. In 2006, we completed reclassification of patent and utility model applications filed before 2006 in accordance with the 8th edition of IPC.

Hybrid system indexing

For classifying patents and utility models according to IPC, we use hybrid systems which consist of a classification scheme (classification codes) and a complementary indexing scheme (indexing codes).

Bibliographic data and full-text processing

KIPO has used the searchable SGML and XML format for its search system. Currently, KIPO’s examiners search the full text of Korean and utility model applications published as far back as 1983 and examine Korean patents and utility models issued since 1947. They can also search bibliographic data and image data from the EPO, JPO, and USPTO, as well as Australia, Canada, China, Taiwan, and the UK.

IV. Search file establishment and upkeep

File building

Along with its gazettes, we continue to construct a database of information from the following sources: the EPO’s FPD and IFD, the JPO’s Patent Gazettes, Search Master and PAJ, and the USPTO’s Patent Specifications, including patent specifications from those countries mentioned in the above category.
We also improve the data quality based on its comprehensive policy covering standardized business processes, continue to analyze CSRs collected from its internal customers, and evaluate the performance of the Digitalization Center and the Data Management Center.
By the end of 2006, the amount of patent technology data in the KIPOnet search system reached over 120 million patents, which comprise 9.3 million domestic patent data and 110.9 million foreign patent data.

Storage, including mass storage media

Storage configuration
Depending on the importance and usage of data, KIPOnet’s storage configuration is divided into two sections; the IP administration system and the search system. IP administration systems apply RAID 1 using 50 percent of relating discs, while search systems apply RAID 5 using 75 percent of relating discs. The rest of those discs are used for mirroring and parity.

Documentation from other offices maintained and/or considered part of the available search file

Please open a file attached below to refer to the database loaded in KIPOnet system.

DatabaseofPatentsandUtilitymodels

V. Activities in the field of computerized and other mechanized search systems

In-house systems (online/offline)

Intelligent Search System
In 2003, KIPO started introducing the idea of intelligent automated searches to our internal search system. In practice, examiners only need to input natural languages to search prior art documents. While formulating this concept from 2003 to 2005, we implemented the following systems and structured additional functions:
• An integrated meta-search function: It enables searching of non-patent literature categorized by technology such as theses, reports, and periodicals,
• Elaboration of the existing integrated viewer for patents and utility models and a personal database client called PMS: The viewer enables our examiners to confirm a great number of search results that have been collectively stored on their own computer.
• A matrix for IPC, F-term, USPC, E-CLA: Examiners can view all relevant applications for prior art with a maximum of 30 representative drawings simultaneously.
• An automatic comparison system for prior art.

Elaboration of Search function
In 2006, we continued increasing search speed and accuracy by upgrading the search engine of KIPOnet as well as improving user interface and making a manual master of the search system for our examiners’ convenience. For better search and improved response speed, we have replaced discs with new ones against continuous data increase and linked the search system to frequently visited sites such as IEEE, ScienceDirect, OSA, and ACS. We also upgraded the Japanese-Korean translation engine linked to the search system.

Online Work-at-Home System
Since March of 2005, we have offered a remote online work-at-home system for our voluntary examiners. They could access the KIPOnet system through a VPN from home. For security, we employed a fingerprint identification system and government public key infrastructure (GPKI).
We also incorporated digital rights management into the KIPOnet system to protect undisclosed patent documents. This technology prohibits document printing to prevent leakage of secret information.
As of the end of 2006, 76 examiners have benefited from this system and they occupy ten percent of total examiners.

External databases

Through the Non-Patent Literature Search System, our examiners efficiently search the databases of STN, CA (Chemical Abstract) and IEEE abstracts. Every year, the scope of database is extended along with provisions for an integrated user-interface. We also provide access to science literature such as Delphion, Westlaw, ScienceDirect, and KP-Journal, ACS, OSA, and so on via the Internet.

Administrative management systems (e.g., register, legal status, statistics, administrative support, etc.)

KIPOnet incorporated approximately 48 subsystems in 2006. Such systems play a role in managing the data produced in each phase of the procedure, dealing with matters that originate in the transfer of data to the next phase, and streamlining the administration of searches.

General Information Management System
The General Information Management System outputs a variety of statistical and policy data related to various types of industrial property such as patents and utility models, as well as trademarks and industrial designs. It does this by using a variety of information retained by KIPO’s databases. The system’s tools efficiently manage large-volumes of data and provide various features for end-users.

Electronic Approval and Routing System
The Electronic Approval and Routing System enabled electronic approval for IPR and general administration. The system comprises two major parts: an approval system for IPR examinations, introduced with the KIPOnet system in 1999; and an approval system for general administration, launched June 2000. The system is used for the following:
• Electronic approval: preparation, approval, dispatch, and receipt of electronic documents, management of a document box, and circulation of documents.
• Electronic mail: preparation, transmission, receipt, and management.
• Electronic bulletin board: posting and review
• Management and preservation of records.
This system also offers a pop-up window showing messages on the approval status of documents and manages individual schedules. The electronic approval system covered 99.86 percent of all documents approved in 2006.

Knowledge Management System
The demand for organized management of knowledge inspired KIPO to introduce the Knowledge Management System (KMS), in October 2001. It is dedicated to the efficient management of a variety of knowledge and information created by KIPO staff to assist in their work. It allows KIPO staff to utilize various management tools such as knowledge maps, knowledge warehouses, personalized portals, and cyber knowledge communities. It also provides this information optionally through personalized portals. It helps activate knowledge management by improving the productivity of the IP administrative processes through the Knowledge-Portal system for knowledge-based activities.
KIPO extended information sharing to three external R&D institutes including the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute. This enabled interactive online communication for exchanging knowledge on patents and technologies with such institutes using Q&A corner and so on. In 2006, we made high quality information posted on KMS available to the public through private search portals such as Naver.

Equipment used (hardware, including the types of terminal and network used, and software), carriers used

Hardware
As of the end of 2006, KIPOnet uses 37 UNIX Enterprise servers, 44 NT servers, and 8 Linux servers. For greater availability, we constructed a clustering system between the Receiving and the Sending Severs, the Documents Management and the Publication Servers, the Homepage Server and the Portal Server, Document Management Server and Gazettes Server, and the Administration Automation and the General Information Management Servers, including Search DB1 and DB2, Search Engine 1 and 2. In other words, in case of system failure, the partnered server temporarily substitutes for the other. The interoperability of clustering allows time to address the problem. Since servers based on the clustering structure use the same database when applying the Oracle Parallel System, the accuracy and suitability of data is maintained if any failure occurs in the servers.
The storage capacity is 193 terabytes. RAID 1, 5, 0 are used according to the method of data protection. For security, we also keep 34 pieces of equipment such as VPN and IDS. The peripherals consist of four backup devices, 5 jukeboxes and 418 sets of network equipment.
In 2006, we improved the performance of that hardware by improving the disc performance for input and output of the Administration Automation System and Search System. We also incorporated storages for the Search System and strengthened security with dualizing network cards. All these activities aim to keep optimized management of KIPOnet to cope with the rapid changes of information technology by increasing and improving relating servers and system resources. When compared with 2005, the CPU capacity increased 23 percent, 15 percent for memory capacity and 73 percent for the logic capacity of disc.

Network
Together with the upgrading of KIPOnet to KIPOnet II in 2005, we integrated its network architecture, which was divided into three sections: extranet (or Internet) to enable electronic filing by applicants; IP network to handle internal IPR administration; and intranet to connect to other government offices.
Based on four backbones, the integrated network is protected by firewall and information protection systems such as an Intrusion Detection System, Enterprise Security Management. Its network topology is Giga Ethernet and the bandwidth is different depending on the layer: Core layer - 2Gbps; Distribution layer - 1Gbps; Edge layer - 100Mbps. Each layer has a Fail-Over function (Active & Stand-By).
In 2006, we linked our network to the network of the Supreme Court so that information on judicial precedents and applications for patents and utility models could be viewed and shared mutually through a 2 megabyte line between both organizations. We replaced old 104 communication network equipments with the new ones to improve the performance of KIPOnet II and extend administrative business information with other government agencies.

Software
For databases, we regularly conducted performance tests with support from Oracle. We continue upgrading backup tools, middleware, and web servers to improve the KIPOnet system in performance and functionality.
As of the end of 2006, we use approximately 116 sorts of commercial software, which are mostly related to database or middleware.

Existing online thesauri; their structure, presentation and usefulness for computerized searches

VI. Administration of the industrial property office library and information products and services available to the public (relating to facilities, e.g., for lodging applications, for assisting clients on searching procedures, for obtaining official publications and registry extracts)

Planning, administration, automation, security, buildings

The Information Policy Bureau organizes comprehensive service for the public by managing the Intellectual Property Digital Library (IPDL), while each department supports its external customers. Public services are offered online and offline through the facilities below. Since the launch of the KIPOnet system, almost all public services are also available online. Examples are filing an application, a variety of notifications by email and SMS, requesting a trial, and ordering a copy of certificates.

IP Digital Library & Local IP Information Center
KIPO has supported its customers through the Intellectual Property Digital Library (IPDL) located at KIPO’s headquarters so visitors can search IPR information in a variety of formats including on-line, microfilm, and paper. They also can order copies of published patent applications as filed.
To publicize the IPR system and disseminate IPR information on a national scale, KIPO designated local IP information centers in 2000. These centers disseminate IPR information in areas where IT inexperience is widespread, industrial complexes, and in SME-concentrated areas.

Call Center
To integrate scattered counseling resources and promptly provide technical advice, KIPO established its Call Center in March 2002. Its roles can be divided as follows:
• Counseling: procedural and technical advice for (electronic) filing, examination, registration, and trial, search and use of patent information, and evaluations for disputes such as IPR infringement.
• Customer Relationship Management: customized information offerings based on the consultation records of past phone requests and opinions collected through customers’ satisfaction survey for better policies and promotional events.
• Outreach service: previously informs applicants that their applications would be extinguished and suggested reasonable solutions.
• Other: managing a quick response system on the Internet, dispatching a troubleshooter to help applicants with e-filing, on-line meetings between an examiner and an applicant through the local patent information centers and the Multimedia Center in KIPO.

Security
For security, we accept digital signature for electronic documents based on the public key infrastructure for the encryption and decoding. To protect our customers’ computers from external attack, we operate IDS, firewall, and VPN with equipments and servers of ESM 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We also have key logger security and hacking-diagnosing system to protect PCs from other risks like spyware and we have applied a single sign-on system for tighter security in accordance with the standardized Directory Access Protocol.
In 2006, we continued upgrading our security level by attaining ISO 27001 for better security of web services for applicants as well as Secure OS for servers’ security and individual information protection mark and secure site mark.

Collection management, preservation

IP Digital Library
The IP Digital Library archives patent documents worldwide such as bibliographic data, abstracts and full texts in a variety of media such as paper, microform, and CD-ROM. The documents are obtained through an exchange agreement with 20 countries, five international organizations such as USPTO, WIPO, and EPO.
The library also possesses non-patent literature donated by or purchased from other sources, which comprises over 26,000 volumes and 511 periodicals related to science and technology, along with CD-ROMs of annual reports and statistics. The collection is arranged in class or numerical order. KIPO’s examiners or the public can search all of these materials. The electronic database is provided at the Internet corner of the IP Digital Library. The library also provides a service for offering copies of original electronic material such as electronic journals and e-books.

Interlibrary lending, resource sharing, networks of patent libraries in the country

Cooperation Between Libraries
KIPO became a member of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI) in 1978, which provides an interlibrary loan service and document delivery service for a variety of IP-related publications.
KIPO’s examiners have used on-line searches to search over 3.4 million volumes of theses, government publications, seminar materials, and books based on the agreement with the National Assembly Library to exchange information since 2002.

National Digital Science Library
KIPO also joined the National Digital Science Library, managed by the KISTI, which provides access to academic theses and scientific journals of 448 domestic libraries and information centers.

Information services available to the public (including computerized services and search files contained in libraries remote from your Office and patent information posted by your Office on the World Wide Web)

e-Patent Portal System
We at KIPO established the e-Patent Portal System to transform our website into an on-line service for the cyber community.
For online registration and e-filing, applicants can make requests by applicant codes and the use of electronic documents simultaneously in order to get digital signatures and codes via the Internet. We encourage the widespread use of digital signatures by authorized organizations. With the applicant code and digital signature, they can file all kinds of intellectual property online with the ease of sending e-mail. Also, they can change their own personal information on our website.
Applicants can pay their fees through Internet banking, and they are informed of the legal status of their applications by e-mail and SMS (Short Message Service).
Through our website, they can also request and receive seven kinds of certificates, download eight kinds of electronic dossiers (such as priority certificates via the Internet), and check how far their requests have been processed. Moreover, “by one call or by one click” they can get answers to most questions concerning intellectual property rights. This interactive process has overcome the limitations of the one-way notification system.
Beginning October 2006, we also began a public service to let applicants know when their applications will be examined in advance.

Korea Industrial Property Rights Information Service
Since January 2001, we have offered domestic IPR information including KPA data free of charge through the Korea Industrial Property Rights Information Service (KIPRIS), which is a specialized IPR information service provided by KIPI.
The service offers business method patents, up-to-date information on the legal status of applications, and the full text of Korean applications and granted patents.
In 2006, we extended its service to full texts of foreign patents from US, JP, and Europe and changed service rules so that users had to have a membership to download or print documents viewed by them. We also reduced the data-loading period to just one day to increase the service quality. Consequently, the search hits of this service reached over 10 million in 2006.

IP Mart
In April 2000, KIPO launched the Internet Patent Mart , or IP-Mart, to create opportunities for transferring patented technologies on-line and to overcome the limitation of short-lived traditional technology fairs. The mart also gives a variety of IP information to individual inventors and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for promoting innovation. In 2006, the IP-Mart database grew to 68,575 technologies with 26,882 users. By the end of 2006, 168 technology transfers were conducted.

URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide information on business procedures such as: filing, publication, examination and grant procedures related to patents; opposition and appeal procedures related to patents; etc.

http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo2/user.tdf?a=user.english.html.HtmlApp&c=30101&catmenu=ek30101
http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo2/user.tdf?a=user.english.html.HtmlApp&c=30300&catmenu=ek30300
http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo2/user.tdf?a=user.html.HtmlApp&c=4001&catmenu=m04_02_01_01

URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that provide a description of information products and services offered by the Office (e.g., patent search service(s), patent databases, etc.), as well as information on how to access and utilize them

http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo2/user.tdf?a=user.english.html.HtmlApp&c=50100&catmenu=ek50100
http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo2/user.tdf?a=user.html.HtmlApp&c=4012&catmenu=m03_11_01
http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo2/user.tdf?a=user.kiporo.html.HtmlApp&c=7001&catmenu=mykipo0101

VII. Matters concerning mutual exchange of patent documentation and information

International or regional cooperation in the exchange of machine-readable information, e.g., bibliographic data, abstract and/or full text information

As of the end of 2006, KIPO exchanges patent documents with 22 countries, five regional offices, such as EPO and ARIPO. In particular, we regularly acquire bibliographic data, image data, or full text data from Australia, Canada, China, the United Kingdom, Taiwan as well as the Trilateral Offices. Those data are loaded into our search system for our examiners’ reference.
IT experts meetings with the JPO, EPO, SIPO and KIPO has continued discussion on the use and dissemination of patent information and the electronic exchange of search databases including priority documents.

Dissemination of Korean patent information by K-PION
For the ultimate purpose of sharing examination results with other national offices, we have provided foreign users with the legal status of Korean applications and KPA data free of charge through KIPRIS on the Internet since May 2004.
Together with this, we developed a Korean- English translation engine for the electric and electronic fields and established a technical terminology dictionary and began English service of Korean applications for foreign IPO examiners by an automatic translation engine called K-PION over the Internet. In November 2006, we also extended this service to English translation of examination information for foreign IPOs’ examiners.

Medium used for exchange of priority documents

Since August 2002, KIPO has exchanged priority documents online, through TriNet with JPO, which had once only been available on CD-ROM from July 2001. In 2006, we exchanged approximately 18,563 priority documents with the JPO.
KIPO has also exchanged priority documents online with WIPO since September 2004 and some applications since February 2005 and translations for publication since February 2006.
We have already agreed to proceed with the electronic exchange of priority documents with Australia, New Zealand and the USA and on technical matters for the exchange with China and the EPO.

Medium allowed for filing applications

KIPO permits applicants to file applications on-line, on paper, or on floppy disk. All paper-based applications are converted into electronic format. Specifications and drawings are submitted to KIPO, as well as bibliographical data on a floppy disk, are uploaded to the KIPOnet system.
After implementing an online filing system in January 1999, KIPO was able to cut its operating expenses and begin to provide various online services including information referral and requests of certificate issuance. In 2006, the e-filing rate for patent applications climbed to an average of 97.2 percent amounting 161,560 applications and for utility model applications up to 83.4 reaching 27,446 applications.

E-filing software (KEAPS)
For e-filing, applicants can easily prepare electronic documents in XML format using software called Korean Electronic Application Preparation Software (KEAPS), and file their application via the Internet.
The requirements for e filing such as the assignment of an application code and the declaration of the first e-filing are available on-line. The e-filing software enables applicants to make electronic documents with a commercial word processor such as MS Word or Hangul . Applicants can directly attach to their specifications sequence listings that had once been written on the specifications.
The software also conducts the following functions:
• Formality check before submitting an application to KIPO
• Receiving a diverse range of formatted documents attached to an application
• Supporting transmission of notifications from KIPO to an applicant

Implementation of the Statement of Principles Concerning the Changeover to Electronic Data Carriers for the Exchange of Patent Documents (please provide a status report on the extent to which your Office has changed over to electronic data carriers for the exchange of patent documents)

For the exchange of IP information, including gazettes and priority documents, we generally prefer on-line exchange rather than CD-ROMs or DVDs.

VIII. Other relevant matters concerning education and training in, and promotion of, the use of patent information, including technical assistance to developing countries (please indicate URLs of web pages of the Office’s website wherever appropriate)

Training courses for national and foreign participants, use of audiovisual means

Cyber International Patent Academy
The Cyber International Patent Academy opened in May 2002. It trains a diverse group of people interested in IPRs and inventions in general from elementary students to senior citizens. In the courses, experts in industry, law, administration, and education present relevant IP information, including basic knowledge of IPRs.
Jointly with the WIPO Worldwide Academy, KIPO has managed courses such as DL-101 (covering the main areas of IPR in English) and KL-101 (covering science technologies in IP in Korean) for students of domestic universities affiliated with KIPO.
As of 2006, the Cyber International Patent Academy manages 130 contents and hosted approximately 202,000 users. In particular, the Academy has agreements with 36 universities to support them to educate their students online on IP and its use.

International Intellectual Property Training Institute
In 1987, the International Intellectual Property Training Institute (IIPTI) was established in Seoul as a KIPO affiliated organization. It initially offered 11 IPR training courses and moved to Daedeok Science Valley in Daejeon with the support of WIPO and the UNDP in February 1991. As of 2006, of the total 77 courses, IIPTI offers six courses for foreign trainees.
IIPTI also gave an opportunity to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) by holding a workshop on formulation and implementation of IP outreach strategies and supported consultation on an establishment of IP training center for Azerbaijan in cooperation with WIPO.

Assistance to developing countries (sending consultants and experts, receiving trainees from developing countries, etc.)

KIPO-WIPO Technical Cooperation Project for Developing IPOs
Based on the Korea-Fund-in-Trust, WIPO and KIPO jointly conducted the following to help developing member states enhance their capacity to administer IPRs in 2006:
In cooperation with WIPO, we deployed the PCT-ROAD (PCT Receiving Office Administration) to Canada, Egypt, Finland, India, Israel, Malaysia, Philippine, Singapore Vietnam.By the end of 2006, we completed the development of a Spanish language version with funding from the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office. It is ready to be disseminated to Latin American nations.
In 2005 and 2006, we also developed IPR e-learning content called IP Panorama, which has ten subjects concerning patents, trade secrets, M&A, electronic commerce, and patent lawsuits. It is user-friendly and business oriented educational material, developed jointly with WIPO and the Korea Invention Promotion Association (KIPA). IP Panorama 01 is available on the WIPO website.
Additionally, we opened similar courses on IPR for college students and enterprises to support the creation of IPRs in cooperation with WIPO. We plan to support IPR training courses, IPR creation, and the use of IPR by SMEs in developing countries.

Joint Cooperation with APEC
In 2006, with APEC’s financial support, we developed e-learning contents to assist APEC member economies in enhancing their abilities to use IPR information and public awareness of IPR protection.
The material covers best practices on IP usages from EPO, JPO, USPTO, and WIPO, comprising of eight subjects. It has been disseminated to enhance efficiency in activities of research, development and business; thereby contributing to the economic development of member economies as one of interactive e-learning education materials using animation and flash on the basis of educational engineering. It is available at APEC’s website.

Promotional activities (seminars, exhibitions, visits, advertising, etc.)

PATINEX
In November 2006, KIPO held an annual IP conference called PATINEX (PATent INformation EXpo). The conference provided participants with up-to-date information on patent strategies of advanced enterprises, solutions and tools for using and analyzing patent information bringing together IP professionals and business from EPO, JPO, SIPO, USPTO, and WIPO around the world. It also gave an opportunity to exhibit relevant software and service products to diverse IP service providers such as Thomson Scientific, Toshiba, Wiz Domain, KIPI, WIPS, and so on.
Enterprises and colleges had a chance to take in-depth information on establishing their IP plans for R&D and technology licenses by learning diverse patent analysis solutions from the event and general public also got to recognize the importance of IP as a new asset again by finding more reasonable ways in applying IP to their businesses.

Activities for Disseminating the Use of IPRs Information
To give consultation on matters or difficulties when researchers conducted R&D projects, we launched the IPR Help-desk online with a relevant website (www.ipr-guide.org) in September 2005. Additionally, we published The National R&D Patent Strategy Manual to suggest 20 key strategies that researchers should keep in mind whenever they initiate government-funded R&D projects in November 2005. .
Moreover, beginning 2006, we also started to disseminate the research note to enable them to manage their R&D results and IP strategies more efficiently.

Studies to identify trends in new technology, e.g., by the use of patent statistics, preparation of monographs, etc.

Survey and Analysis of Patent Statistics
To encourage greater use of valuable patent information for R&D, we periodically publish an analytical report called Patent Trends of Korea. In 2006, we reported the results of analyzing trends of approximately 1,290,000 patent applications filed from 1990 to 2005 and 450,000 patents granted for the same period in Korea. Data was analyzed by domestic or foreign applicant, technology, academic field, region and company. We focused on the performance by R&D bodies and efficiency depending on the investment and the number of involved researchers of universities, public R&D institutes, and private companies.
Moreover, targeting over 2 million patents granted by the USPTO from 1990 to 2005, we invested technological patent trend among OECD member states in order to do comparative analysis on technology competitiveness between major IPOs including KIPO.

Statistical Information System
In 2006, we made a list of 320 kinds of statistical index, which is necessary for analyzing regular or irregular patent-related statistics to establish a data warehouse exclusively for statistics and build a statistical information system in 2007. Additionally, we also made a list of 180 kinds of analytical index, which enables relative analysis with national economic index.

Main patent and industrial property information magazines/journals published in the country or region of the Office

IX. Other general information related to the Office that is available on the Internet -- URLs of web pages of the Office’s website that:

provide information on legislation related to patents

http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo2/user.tdf?a=user.english.html.HtmlApp&c=60201&catmenu=ek60201

contain the Annual Report of the Office

http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo2/user.tdf?a=user.english.html.HtmlApp&c=60101&catmenu=ek60101

contain patent-related news regarding the Office

http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo2/user.tdf?a=user.english.board.BoardApp&c=1001&board_id=kiponews&catmenu=ek20200

X. Other relevant matters