Annual Technical Report on Trademark Information Activities in 2024 submitted by KR

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URLs in responses should meet the following requirements:

I. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN TRADEMARK INFORMATION ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) has articulated its vision of “Advancing to a Global Leading Nation through Intellectual Property” and formulated five strategic initiatives spanning three core domains — “Examination and Trial,” “Domestic Intellectual Property Ecosystem,” and “Global Environment” — as part of its policy direction for 2024. 

The five priority initiatives are:

1. Providing high-quality examination and trial services to support technological innovation;

2. Strengthening technological competitiveness through the utilization of intellectual property;

3. Establishing a fair order for the protection of intellectual property;

4. Advancing the business growth ecosystem based on intellectual property; and

5. Expanding the innovation infrastructure for intellectual property

Recently, in August 2024, the Act on the Management and Promotion of Utilization of Industrial Property Information was newly enacted and came into full effect. The main provisions of the Act are as follows: First, to enhance R&D efficiency and support industrial technology strategies, it allows for the collection, processing, and provision of disclosed industrial property information. Second, to prevent the leakage and ensure the protection of technologies related to national security, it permits the use of industrial property information under application and its sharing with relevant government agencies. In addition, it establishes the institutional foundation for building databases and systems, fostering professional personnel, and supporting the development of information services to meet data demands from the private sector.

II. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO TRADEMARK INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

○ Operation of KIPRIS

• Since 2000, the Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service (KIPRIS) has provided the general public with free access to domestic and international intellectual property information.

• In 2024, the KIPRIS website’s interface and functions were completely overhauled for the first time in 12 years. As of 2024, KIPRIS offers industrial property rights information from 29 countries, as well as non-patent literature.

• Through various communication channels, such as user forums and supporter programs, KIPRIS collects feedback for service improvement. In 2024, the user satisfaction score for KIPRIS reached 89 points, an increase of 2.15 points compared to the previous year.

○ Expansion of Public Data Access

• Through KIPRIS Plus, KIPO provides patent information to the private sector via Open APIs, bulk data downloads, and online download services.

• The range of IP data made available includes patents, utility models, trademarks, designs, intermediate file packages, trial information, and foreign patents — totaling approximately 126 types of open data products. As of now, these IP data products are utilized in about 5,072 cases.

III. SOURCES OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE

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.

IV. ICT SUPPORT TO SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO TRADEMARK 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 TRADEMARK INFORMATION

Information on the following topics is desired:

Please insert links to specific pages on your website where the above information is posted in English, French, or Spanish.  See other requirements above.  You may also provide text instead of links.

VI. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION

Information on the following topics is desired:

Please insert links to specific pages on your website where the above information is posted in English, French, or Spanish.  See other requirements above.  You may also provide text instead of links.

VII. ACTIVITIES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF WIPO STANDARDS CONCERNING TRADEMARK INFORMATION

Note: For each Standard listed below, please enter one of the following values: 

• "Implemented";
• "On implementation phase";
• "Planning to implement";  and
• "No plan to implement"

WIPO Standard ST.3: Two-letter codes for the representation of states, other entities and organizations

Implemented

Please provide more details based on your selection

WIPO Standard ST.13: Numbering of applications for IPRs

No plan to implement

Please provide more details based on your selection

WIPO Standard ST.60: Bibliographic data relating to marks

Implemented

Please provide more details based on your selection

WIPO Standard ST.61: The exchange of trademark legal status data 

No plan to implement

Please provide more details based on your selection

WIPO Standard ST.63: Content and layout of trademark gazettes

Implemented

Please provide more details based on your selection

WIPO Standard ST.66: Processing of trademark information using XML

Partially Implemented

Please provide more details based on your selection

WIPO Standard ST.67: Electronic management of the figurative elements of trademarks

Implemented

Please provide more details based on your selection

WIPO Standard ST.68: Electronic management of sound marks

Implemented

Please provide more details based on your selection

WIPO Standard ST.90: Recommendation for processing and communicating Intellectual Property data using Web APIs (Application Programming Interfaces)

Partially Implemented

Please provide more details based on your selection

WIPO Standard ST.91: Recommendations on digital three-dimensional (3D) models and 3D images

No plan to implement

Please provide more details based on your selection

WIPO Standard ST.96: Processing of Industrial Property information using XML

Implemented

Please provide more details based on your selection

Other WIPO Standards Related to Trademarks

Note: Please list any other WIPO Standards related to trademarks (not mentioned above) that your Office or Organization has implemented, is currently in the process of implementing, or plans to implement in the future.  For each Standard, please indicate the implementation status with an option: Implemented, On implementation Phase or Planning to Implement.

Please provide more details

VIII. OTHER RELATED MATTERS 

Please insert links to specific pages on your website where the above information is posted in English, French, or Spanish.  See other requirements above.  You may also provide text instead of links. Please provide more details based on your selection

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