Annual Technical Report on Patent Information Activities in 2024 submitted by
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the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO)
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Information on the following topics is desired:
○ Development of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Databases
Since 1999, KIPO has been building search databases for domestic and overseas intellectual property rights. Currently, it acquires IPR data from 56 foreign countries, including the IP5 offices such as the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
In 2008, Korean patent literature was included in the PCT minimum documentation, which must be mandatorily consulted by patent offices worldwide during international patent examinations. This inclusion highlighted the importance of maintaining the quality of KIPO’s search databases. To this end, KIPO has established systems to systematically refine and process acquired domestic and foreign data for errors before incorporating them into the search databases.
○ Publication of Intellectual Property Gazettes
Since 1948, KIPO has published industrial property gazettes. In May 1998, the format was changed to CD-ROM, and since July 2001, gazettes have also been available through an online service.
On a monthly basis, gazettes are distributed via DVD and FTP to 17 countries and organizations.
In 2023, approximately 775,000 gazettes were published, contributing to the protection of applicants’ rights and safeguarding Korea’s intellectual property rights abroad.
○ Korean Patent Abstracts (KPA)
The KPA is an English-language abstract of the main contents of inventions published in the Korean Patent Gazette, designed to enable foreign examiners and users to understand them quickly and accurately. Each abstract consists of bibliographic data, a summary, and a representative drawing.
Including the 149,345 abstracts published in 2024, a total of 3,511,994 English abstracts have been issued to date.
IV. ICT SUPPORT TO SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO PATENT INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
Information on the following topics is desired:
○ Operation of the PatentNet System
Since 1999, KIPO has been operating the PatentNet system. The application system segment comprises 35 patent administration systems covering filing, registration, examination, and trial processes, while the general administrative segment consists of 10 systems, including knowledge management, performance management, and the official website.
○ Application of AI Technology in Examination and Trial Support
In response to recent advances in AI technology, KIPO has been integrating AI into its patent administration systems to support examination and trial operations. In 2022, KIPO developed an AI-based similar patent search system, which is currently used in examination processes. From 2023 to 2024, KIPO has implemented AI-based optical character recognition (OCR) technology to automatically classify submitted documents necessary for trial proceedings, thereby enhancing patent administration efficiency.
V. PROMOTION ACTIVITIES AIMED TO SUPPORT USERS IN ACCESS AND EFFICIENT USE OF PATENT INFORMATION
Information on the following topics is desired:
○ Establishment of a Customer-Centered Civil Service System
Every year, KIPO formulates and implements plans to improve civil administration and related systems, systematically addressing and rectifying customer dissatisfaction.
To enhance the quality of civil administrative services, an annual intellectual property customer satisfaction survey is conducted.
KIPO operates a public idea contest on intellectual property information policy to gather citizens’ suggestions for improving patent administration systems and services, which are then utilized in policy formulation.
VI. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF PATENT INFORMATION
Information on the following topics is desired:
○ IP5 Cooperation Framework
In October 2008, substantive discussions on IP5 cooperation began at the meeting of heads of the five major patent offices (IP5).
Currently, in addition to the various cooperative projects underway within each working group (WG), KIPO plans to undertake various initiatives aimed at implementing the ‘Advanced Technology/Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Roadmap’ as well as new cooperative projects supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
○ Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation
In 2024, KIPO plans to hold director-level meetings with patent offices from countries including the United States, China, Japan, and Europe to discuss cooperation in intellectual property fields addressing global issues such as new technologies including AI inventions.
○ Region-Specific Tailored Cooperation
KIPO is expanding cooperation with regions such as ASEAN, the Middle East (including the UAE and Saudi Arabia), and Latin America.
○ Hosting the Patent Information Expo
KIPO holds the annual PATINEX (PATent INformation EXpo), featuring keynote speeches and lectures by renowned domestic and international experts on major issues in patent information, presentations on patent information dissemination policies and utilization by patent offices and companies, exhibitions of services by patent information providers, and business meetings between enterprises and institutions.
In 2024, under the theme “Intellectual Property Information: A New Wave Toward a Better Future,” the expo attracted 592 participants and 19 companies and organizations.
VII. ACTIVITIES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF WIPO STANDARDS CONCERNING PATENT INFORMATION
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