SCIT.ATR.PI.2007.KR

Annual Technical Report 2007 on Patent Information Activities submitted by Republic of Korea (SCIT/ATR/PI/2007/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 2007, the number of patent applications was 172,469, a 3.8% increase over the number for 2006, while the number of patent grants was 123,705, representing a 2.4% increase also over the number for 2006.

However, the number of utility model applications in 2007 declined significantly: the number of utility model applications was 21,084, representing a 35.9% decrease while the number of utility model grants was 2,795, representing a 90.6% decrease.

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

The main reason for the decline in the number of utility model grants was the abolition of the Quick Registration for Utility Models in 2007.

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

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
In July 2001, KIPO began the daily posting of PDF gazettes on granted and laid open patents and utility model applications on its website. This gives members of the public quick and easy access to the contained information. More so, they are allowed to request for gazettes through the mailing service. In addition, XML DVD-ROM gazettes are distributed to 10 domestic and 9 foreign offices twice a month.

In 2007, KIPO published gazettes on patents and utility models as follows:

• 122,582 patent applications
• 1,328 utility model applications
• 124,796 patent grants
• 2,808 utility model grants

Digitalization Center (Data Conversion Center)
In January 2001, KIPO began operating the Digitalization / Data Conversion Center for digitizing paper-based applications for patents, utility models, and intermediate documents such as amendments, written opinions, trials and paper-based gazettes at the Center.

The Center automatically receives applications, performs formality checks and data conversion on them. Delays and/or errors during the conversion process is avoided through applying state-of-the-art technology, such as, Multi OCR, dual key-inputs, automated verification of electronic data, and color-scanning technology for documents attached to applications.

In 2007, the Center digitized a total of 166,233 documents, which were a combination of 777 different kinds of paper-based documents, including 4,982 patent applications and 3,709 utility model applications. This means that the Center took 2.32 days digitalizing each document with an average of 657 documents per day.

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

KIPO’s Website
On KIPO’s website, applicants can find the following:

• Announcements about notifications that couldn’t be delivered due to an applicant’s change of address.
• Advance notice on designs expiring due to the non-payment of fees.
• Other notices, such as, changes in laws or fees.

Internet gazette search service
Since 2001, KIPO has had an Internet gazette search service, which is available through its website . At the website, customers can refer to publications from the year 2002 to date in PDF format. In addition, they can be sent notifications about their topics of interests through a push-mail service or a Short Message Service (SMS).

Word processing and office automation

With the launch of the KIPOnet system in 1999, KIPO computerized almost all its administrative processes, including receiving, examining, granting and disclosing applications. In 2001, we started to announce examination results to applicants via email or SMS, publish official gazettes on the Internet, and handle most registration and opposition procedures online. And in 2002, we developed the Online Trial System.

In 2005, we launched the KIPOnet II system, by integrating legacy subsystems, the architecture and middleware of KIPOnet, as well as by adapting the workflows of 2003 to 2004. The KIPOnet II system offers nonstop services, a work-at-home examination environment, online PCT e-filing, and a real-time notification service.

In 2006, we set-up an infrastructure for sharing patent information and examination results with other IPOs and began a public service for letting applicants know when their applications would be examined, and continued to improve on the quality of the KIPOnet II system.

In November 2007, KIPO started receiving patent and utility model applications filed through the WEB-PASS—a web-based e-filing system.

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

http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo2/user.tdf?a=user.html.HtmlApp&c=4135&catmenu=m03_11_10

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 has been managing the Data Management Center. The Center provides high-quality data through systematic analysis of patent and utility model data stored in the KIPOnet system by digitalizing those data and fixing errors found in them. In 2007, data analysis was conducted on the following:

1) Data verification & Digitalization of paper-based data in the legacy system before the KIPOnet system was launched
• Verification: 42,034 patent applications, 442,938 utility model representative drawings, 93,620 examination record (or history)
• Digitalization: 2,372 rejected applications

2) Data quality management
KIPO created guidelines for data management and adjusted approximately 16.5 million data in the KIPOnet II system.

3) Data Transfer
For online public services of patent information, KIPO regularly provides the Korea Institute of Patent Information (KIPI) with raw data (over 5.7 million data of patents and 1.4 million data of utility models in 2007). KIPI serves the public by packaging these raw data, and making the information available through a free patent information search service on the Internet - KIPRIS (Korea Industrial Property Rights Information Service).

4) Media management system
The Center manages information on media collected from foreign offices, assigns individual ID numbers to them, and enters relevant information about the media into the system.

Korean Patent Abstracts
Since 1997, to exchange patent information with other IPOs and to protect the industrial property rights of Korean individuals and companies in foreign countries, KIPO publishes Korean Patent Abstracts (KPA), which is a publication of the abstracts of domestic patent applications and grants in English, on CD-ROMs. These CD-ROMs are distributed to 39 IPOs including the IPO of the US, Japan, and the UK; and seven organizations including WIPO and the EPO.
As at the end of 2007, KIPO had published 260,000 granted patents and 903,000 patent applications.

Classification¹, preclassification² (if applicable), and reclassification³ 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
At KIPO, we use the International Patent Classification (IPC) as our official classification system. Since January 1, 2006, we have been classifying patent and utility model applications according to the 8th edition of the 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 the reclassification of patent and utility model applications filed before 2006 in accordance with the 8th edition of the IPC.

Hybrid system indexing

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

Bibliographic data and full-text processing

KIPO uses the searchable SGML and XML formats for its search system. Currently, KIPO’s examiners are able to search the full text of Korean patent 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 and image data from the EPO, JPO, and USPTO, as well as Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Taiwan, and the UK.

IV. Search file establishment and upkeep

File building

Along with gazettes obtained, 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 the countries mentioned under the above section.

Based on our comprehensive policy, which covers standardized business processes, we strive to improve data quality; continue to analyze customer service requests collected from internal customers; and evaluate the performance of the Digitalization Center and Data Management Center.

As at the end of 2007, the amount of patent technology data in the KIPOnet search system was over 127 million, and comprised of 10.2 million domestic patent data and 117.3 million foreign patent data.

Storage, including mass storage media

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

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

Please find attached a file of the KIPOnet system database.

PatentandUtilityModeldatabasestatusofKIPO - Patent and Utility Model database status of KIPO

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

In-house systems (online/offline)

Patent Search System
The Patent Search System supports simple and convenient search of IPR information from all over the world including full text search of patent gazettes from Korea, Japan, the USA, and Europe. It also supports search of non-patent literature categorized by technology, such as theses, reports, and periodicals. When a user inputs a Korean keyword, he/she can get the corresponding English/Japanese results. The search system enables KIPO examiners to conduct reserved search requests and delivers the results to them through an after-hours batch work system. Using ‘non-patent literature unified meta searches’ for electronic journals, including IEEE, Science, Direct, and OSA, this system can search multiple Internet sites and show the results on the same screen.
In 2007, to improve on the search function of the Patent Search System, KIPO drew up a master plan to build a multilingual translation system and included non-patent data related to architectural engineering.

Online Work-at-Home System
Since March 2005, KIPO has been offering a remote online work-at-home system to voluntary examiners. It enables them to access the KIPOnet system from the comfort of their homes through a VPN, a fingerprint identification system, and a government public key infrastructure (GPKI). To prevent the leakage of undisclosed patent documents, the digital rights management technology has been incorporated into the KIPOnet system.

As at the end of 2007, 69 examiners (approximately 12% of the total number of patent examiners) had benefited from this system.

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. In addition, access is provided to science literatures, such as Delphion, Westlaw, ScienceDirect, and KP-Journal, JJAP, BCSJ, ACS, OSA, CCD, Science, Nature, Wiley-Interscience, Springer, and so on, via the Internet.

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

In 2007, the KIPOnet system integrated approximately 39 subsystems. Each subsystem plays a role in managing the data produced during the various phases of the procedure; such as, dealing with matters that originate in the transfer of data to the next phase, and streamlining the search administration.

General Information Management System
The General Information Management System generates a variety of statistical and policy data related to industrial designs, trademarks, patents, and utility models. 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 to end-users.

Electronic Approval and Routing System
The Electronic Approval and Routing System enable electronic approvals for IPR and general administration. The system comprises of two major parts: an approval system for IPR examinations, introduced with the KIPOnet system in 1999; and an approval system for general administration, launched in 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.

The system has a pop-up window feature, which shows messages on the approval status of documents and could be used for managing individual schedules. The electronic approval system was used for 99.9% of all the documents approved in 2007.

Knowledge Oasis
In 2006, the Knowledge Management System that was launched in 2001, was renamed 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 variety of knowledge and information created by our staff. It’s for assisting them in their work, and enables them to discuss and share knowledge through the bulletin board of the KOASIS website. Furthermore, it offers a keyword search function for gleaning details of approved documents and allows our staff to utilize various management tools, such as, knowledge maps, knowledge warehouses, personalized portals, and cyber knowledge communities.

In addition, the system enables our staff to share ideas and knowledge with three external R&D institutes including the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute through an online Q&A communication corner. Some high quality information posted on the KOASIS is available to the public through KIPO’s homepage and private search portals like Naver. Since November 2007, it has been linked to the Government’s Knowledge Management System for more extended information sharing between government agencies.

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

Hardware
As at the end of 2007, KIPOnet had 57 UNIX Enterprise servers, 57 NT servers, and 15 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 paired servers temporarily substitute for each 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 even when server failures occur.

The storage capacity is 290 terabytes. RAID 1, 5, 0 are used according to the method of data protection. For security, we also keep 43 pieces of equipment, such as, VPNs and IDSs. The peripherals consist of 6 backup devices, 5 jukeboxes and 207 sets of network equipment.

In 2007, we improved the performance of our hardware by introducing more IT resources, such as, 18 servers, 29TB disc, and 46 copies of commercial software to enhance the IT infrastructure. We also analyzed the availability of server resources; adjusted them; optimized the storage and backup devices; and installed duplicate network cards.

Network
In 2007, KIPO increased its communication line from 20Mbps to 40Mbps for improved services at the Call Center, targeting applicants and the public. We also replaced 13 old communication devices with new ones. The KIPOnet system was linked to the TriNet to facilitate the online sharing of examination information with the EPO, JPO and the USPTO.

In November 2007, in order to create an e-Government infrastructure that can cope with future IT environment and to facilitate the sharing of informational resources between government offices, KIPO’s IT resources were incorporated into the National Computing & Information Agency (NCIA), which has two branch offices. The relocation of KIPO’s IT resources and network equipment were as follows:

• KIPO’s headquarters is connected to the 2nd NCIA office on 622Mbps and 2 lines.
• KIPO’s IT Center was relocated to the 2nd NCIA office.
• The Disaster Recovery Center, which has always been in Seoul, was relocated to the 1st NCIA office.
• In case of disaster at the 2nd NCIA, the 1st NCIA will execute online public services via a DWDM link of 2.5Gbps

Software
For databases, we regularly conducted performance tests with support from Oracle. We continued upgrading the backup tools, middleware, and web servers to improve the KIPOnet system’s performance and functionality. As at the end of 2007, we were using approximately 154 sorts of commercial software. The software can be grouped into three groups and are mostly related to database and middleware. The groups are:

• 143 sorts of perpetual license software including DBMS and web servers
• four sorts of subscription license software including V3
• Seven sorts of package software for KOASIS, web mail, messenger, performance management, electronic approval, six sigma, and etc.

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 services for the public by managing the IP Digital Library and the e-Patent Portal System, while other departments support customers according to their duties and responsibilities.

e-Patent Portal System
The e-Patent Portal System was established to transform our website into an online service for the cyber community. Owing to this service, applicants can file all the various kinds of intellectual property applications online and pay the relevant fees by Internet banking. They are informed of the legal status of their applications by e-mail and/or SMS. They can request and receive certificates, download electronic dossiers, such as priority certificates via the Internet and check the progress of their request. In addition, in October 2006, we launched a public service for informing applicants in advance, of when their applications would be examined.

In 2007, an HTML-based service titled “How is my application going?” for individual applicants; and a SOAP-based web service for enterprises, universities, institutes and IP law firms were launched. Furthermore, in November of the same year, the e-Patent Portal System was linked to the WEB-PASS. The WEB-PASS is a web-based e-filing system for receiving all kinds of IPR applications.

IP Digital Library & Local IP Information Center
KIPO supports its customers through the IP Digital Library located at KIPO’s headquarters. This enables visitors to search for IPR information in a variety of formats including online, microfilm, and paper. Visitors could also 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 the Call Center in March 2002. Its roles can be summarized as follows:

• Counseling: procedural and technical advice on (electronic) filing; examination; registration; trial; search and use of design information; and on the evaluation of disputes, such as IPR infringement.
• Customer Relationship Management: customized information based on the record of past phone requests and opinions collected through customers’ satisfaction survey for better policies and promotional events.
• Outreach service: informs applicants in advance that their applications would be extinguished and suggests reasonable solutions.
• Others: managing a quick response system that is available on the Internet; dispatching a troubleshooter to help applicants with e-filing, on-line meetings between an examiner and an applicant through the local IP information center and the Multimedia Center in KIPO

Security
In terms of security, we accept the digital signature of electronic documents based on a public key infrastructure for encryption and decoding. To protect our customers’ computers from external attack, we operate an IDS, firewall, and a VPN with ESM equipments and servers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We also have a key logger security and hacking-diagnostic system for protecting PCs against other risks, such as spywares; and we have applied a single sign-on system for tighter security in accordance with the standardized Directory Access Protocol.

In 2006, we upgraded our security level by attaining ISO 27001 for better security of web services for applicants, secure OS for servers’ security, individual information protection mark, and secure site mark.

Collection management, preservation

IP Digital Library
The IP Digital Library archives patent documents, 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 18 countries and 4 international organizations, including the USPTO, WIPO, and EPO.

The library has non-patent literatures donated by or purchased from other sources, which comprises of over 31,170 volumes and 536 periodicals related to science and technology, CD-ROMs of annual reports, and statistics. The collections are arranged either in class or numerical order. KIPO examiners and/or members of the public are allowed access to this collection. The electronic database is provided at the Internet corner of the IP Digital Library. The library also offers copies of original electronic materials, such as electronic journals and e-books.

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

Cooperation Between Libraries
In 1978, KIPO became a member of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI). The institute provides both an interlibrary loan and a document delivery service of a variety of IP-related publications.

Since 2002, KIPO examiners have conducted online searches on over 3.45million volumes of theses, government publications, seminar materials, and books. This is based on the agreement with the National Assembly Library to exchange information.

National Digital Science Library
KIPO is also a member of the National Digital Science Library, managed by KISTI. The library provides access to the academic theses and scientific journals of 463 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)

KIPO’s Web site
KIPO’s website is an information portal for its customers. General information on IP and some individual announcements; such as undelivered notifications due to applicants changing their addresses, notice on patent expiring due to the non-payment of fees, etc. are available at the website. It also gives them access to the Internet gazette search service and notifications about their interests through a push-mail and/or an SMS service.

In 2007, to give the general public a better understanding of how IP information can be used and/or created, ‘from Filing to Grant’ was added and the search database extended. Some of the excellent ideas shared internally between KIPO staff through the KOASIS system are now being linked to KIPO’s homepage. KIPO improved its website services based on the results of analyzing the usage-characteristics of individual visitors and observing the best practices of domestic and foreign website operations.

In an effort to facilitate access to IP information and to its website, KIPO introduced the web technologies defined by W3C and a voice service to better serve the sick, aged and/or disabled. The voice service reads texts on the website out loud. Specifically, underprivileged users now have an easier and more comfortable access since they can scale the screen up and down; and the video files are subtitled.

Korea Industrial Property Rights Information Service
Since January 2001, we have offered domestic IPR information including KPAs, for free-of-charge through the Korea Industrial Property Rights Information Service (KIPRIS), which is available at http://www.kipris.or.kr/kor/main/main.jsp. The service covers business method patents, up-to-date information on the legal status of applications, the full text of Korean applications and granted patents, as well as full texts of foreign patents from the US, JP, and Europe.

In 2007, for foreign users, KIPRIS began offering a language translation service called ‘K2E-PAT,’ which is a real-time machine translation service of the full texts of Korean patents and utility models into English language. It also started offering legal status information on applications in English, and citation information of prior arts in the search retrieval menu. In 2007, the number of search hits by visitors was over 16million, while, the number of visits was 11.2million.

IP Mart
In April 2000, KIPO launched the Internet Patent Mart , also known as IP-Mart, to create opportunities for transferring patented technologies online and to 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 2007, the IP-Mart database grew to 74,680 technologies with 29,689 users, while 46 technology transfers were made.

URLs of web pages of the Office's website for electronic filing of patent applications

http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo2/user.tdf?a=user.kiporo.BoardApp

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) and patent databases), 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 at the end of 2007, KIPO collects patent documents from 25 offices, including the EPO and WIPO. In particular, we regularly obtain bibliographic, image, and/or full text data from Australia, Canada, China, the United Kingdom, and Taiwan as well as from the Trilateral Offices. These data are loaded into our search system for our examiners’ reference.

The IT experts meeting between the JPO, EPO, SIPO and KIPO on the use and dissemination of patent information as well as on the electronic exchange of search databases including priority documents, is ongoing and we are actively involved.

Dissemination of Korean patent information by K-PION
Since Korean patent documents were incorporated into the PCT minimum documentation, the importance of referring to Korean patent documents when other IPOs perform examinations has increased. Therefore, to help examiners of foreign IP offices with their examination, KIPO launched a Korean to English translation service for publications on Patent/Utility Model applications. This service is available through the Korean Patent Information Online Network (K-PION) service and was launched in November 2005.

The K-PION service is operated through a Korean-English translation engine customized for patent documents. It has approximately 3million sentence patterns and technical terms. It enables IPO examiners who are not familiar with the Korean language to easily understand Korean patent documents and is available to them for free, 24/7 via the Internet. Translations of file wrapper information have been available since November 2006.

In 2007, the K-PION service was upgraded in the following areas:

• In March 2007, the K-PION service was linked to the in-house system of the EPO.
• In October, the K-PION domain name was changed to www.k-pion.kipo.go.kr.
• In November 2007, it began offering a keyword search service for KPAs in English.

Trilateral Document Access Services
In collaboration with the JPO, we launched the TDA-FWA (File Wrapper Access) system for sharing examination results online with the JPO. This was done in April 2007 and under a project called the Korea-Japan Patent Prosecution Highway. It was linked to our internal system in July of the same year. We plan to extend this to the EPO and the USPTO in order to reduce examination pendency period and to increase the quality of examinations of the IPOs, ultimately strengthening the international protection of the industries and technologies of each country.

Medium used for exchange of priority documents

Since August 2002, KIPO has exchanged priority documents with the JPO online via the TriNet. In 2007, KIPO exchanged approximately 12,878 priority documents with the JPO.

KIPO also started to exchange priority documents online with WIPO in September 2004 and some of PCT applications in February 2005. Furthermore, since February 2006, KIPO has exchanged translations of publications with them.

In July 2007, KIPO started exchanging priority documents with the EPO, online via the TriNet, and a total 1,436 priority documents have been exchanged since then.

Medium allowed for filing applications

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 bibliographical data submitted to KIPO on floppy disks are uploaded to the KIPOnet system.

After implementing an online filing system in January 1999, KIPO was able to cut its operating expenses and began providing various online services, including information referral and requests for certificates. In 2007, the e-filing rate for patent applications rose to an average of 97.2% amounting to 167,687 applications, while for utility model applications, it got up to 82.7% amounting to 17,446 applications.

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 offers general training programs to a diverse group of people interested in IPRs and inventions. Trainees range from elementary school students to senior citizens. During the courses, experts from industry, law, administration, and education give presentations on relevant IP information, including basic knowledge of IPRs.

As at 2007, it had managed 148 contents and hosted approximately 220,000 users. Specifically, the Academy has supported 40 universities in providing online education on IP to their students.

International Intellectual Property Training Institute
In 1987, the International Intellectual Property Training Institute (IIPTI) was established in Seoul as an organization affiliated with KIPO. It initially offered 11 IPR training courses and then moved in February 1991, to the Daedeok Science Valley in Daejeon with the support of WIPO and the UNDP.

The courses for government officials are given in English and based on their level / grade of the government officials. The courses include courses, such as the WWA DL-101 Course, courses on controversial issues in IP as well as other relevant courses.

Whereas, for the private sector, the courses are focused on both expanding the nation’s IP base and for raising awareness of IP. The courses target patent attorneys, R&D researchers and IP staff of enterprises. In addition, these courses will contribute to cultivating IP experts in the industry and help to secure more customized programs and practical exercises.

As at 2007, out of a total of 71 courses, the IIPTI offered eight to foreign trainees. Notably, customized courses were offered to the officials and examiners of the Vietnamese and Malaysian governments on the special request of their governments.

The IIPTI also provided consultations on the establishment of an IP education center in Azerbaijan in cooperation with WIPO and submitted a concept paper.

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

KIPO-WIPO Technical Cooperation for Developing IPOs
In May 2005, we used the Korea Funds-in-Trust at WIPO to develop, in conjunction with WIPO, the PCT receiving office administration software called PCT-ROAD. In 2007, we also supplemented the function of the PCT-EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) to enable the online exchange of PCT-related documents. By the end of 2007, the software program had been distributed to 18 countries, including Israel, Egypt, India, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Africa, and Mexico.

In 2007, for a digital IPR educational program called IP Panorama, we supplemented additional functions and tried to develop a multi-lingual version. IP Panorama uses animation to facilitate the learning of IPR concepts in ten fields, including patent information, technology trade, M&As, e-commerce, and patent disputes. The program is useful for IP education and training, as well as for the development of human resources.

In conjunction with the SMEs Division of WIPO, we have managed e-learning IPR courses in order to help SMEs of developing countries create their own IP. We have also made these courses available to our domestic companies and universities.

Furthermore, to raise the IP awareness of our domestic college students, we have operated with the WIPO Worldwide Academy (WWA), joint courses such as the DL-101 (that covers the main areas of IPR in English language) and KL 101 (that covers science technologies including IP in Korean language) for students of domestic universities affiliated with KIPO. Students, who take these courses, are issued with WIPO WWA and KIPO joint certificates.

Joint Cooperation with APEC
In 2006 and 2007, with 260,000 USD worth of support from APEC, we developed an IP e-learning program called IP Xpedite. This program has been distributed to many countries around the world, especially to APEC member economies, to assist in enhancing their abilities to use IPR information as well as their public awareness of IPR protection. This program is also available at APEC’s website.

The material covers best practices on IP usage from the EPO, JPO, USPTO, and WIPO. It is composed of 14 modules: eight of the modules, which were created in 2006, pertain to the use of patent information; the other six modules, which were developed in 2007, are concerned with the preparation and interpretation of the patent documents required in major IP countries.

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

2007 PATINEX
The 2007 International Patent Information Expo (PATINEX) featured various strategies and methods used by domestic and foreign companies in the utilization of patent information. Focusing on the strategic use of patent information and patent strategies to promote corporate R&D, the event highlighted hands-on experience of domestic and foreign corporations.

The participants had an opportunity to experience how domestic and foreign companies, such as Samsung Electronics, IBM, and HP, use their patent information strategies to maximize the creation of profit. Besides several presentations and lectures that were given, there was also an array of exhibition booths. The booths were run by a variety of domestic and international patent information providers and institutions. Some of these organizations included the World Intellectual Property Organization, Thomson Scientific, the Korea Institute of Patent Information, and Worldwide Intellectual Property Search. For the benefit of participants, a range of software and services regarding patent information analysis was displayed in the booths.

Activities for Disseminating the Use of IPR Information
To consult on the matters and/or difficulties that researchers face in conducting R&D projects, we launched the IPR Help-desk online available at (www.ipr-guide.org) in September 2005. And we are also promoting the use of R&D note by researchers to raise their awareness of and improve on their capacity to yield R&D results and patent strategies.

In 2007, we provided consulting services to 30 R&D institutes to raise their capability of using IPR information. We visited with them, conducted analysis of their IPRs and gave coaching sessions on the strategic use of patent information. Furthermore, we developed the ’IPR Management Index’ with 50 detailed indexes in six areas.

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

Survey and Analysis of Patent Statistics
To encourage the greater use of valuable patent information for R&D, we periodically publish an analytical report called Patent Trends of Korea. In 2007, we reported the results of analyzing trends of approximately 1.4 million patent applications filed from 1983 to 2006 and 550,000 patents granted from 1948 to 2006 in Korea. The 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 3.6 million patents granted by the USPTO from 1976 to 2006, we investigated technological patent trend among OECD member states in order to do a comparative analysis on technology competitiveness between major IPOs including KIPO.

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