How long is the protection period of industrial design in Korea?

• The average time for partial substantive examination design granted is 1-2 months.
• The average time for substantive examination of design granted is 10-12 months.

Korean Industrial Property Office

English: Korea Intellectual Property Office, abbreviation: KIPO

Website: Korean Intellectual Property Office (kipo.go.kr)

Korean Utility Model Patent Search: Integrated Search < SEARCH - KIPRIS Patent Information searching service

yes. It is possible to change the patent type from utility model to invention within 30 days of receiving the grant/rejection decision, and pay the corresponding fee.

10 years

no

• via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date.
• via Nationalization of PCT : 31 months from earliest priority date.

For the design of partial substantive examination, multiple designs can be included in one design application, but the designs must belong to the same class in the international design classification.

If the following situations occur 12 months before the patent application/priority date by the inventor, applicant or assignee:

• By correspondence, or publicly at national or international exhibitions

• Disclosure due to malicious disclosure by a third party

  The novelty grace period can be enjoyed, and the applicant needs to submit corresponding evidence support when submitting the application.

• Grant fee: The applicant should pay the annual fee for the first to third year within 3 months after receiving the notification of granted decision
• Annuity: Begin to pay year by year from the 4th year, overdue payment can be made within the 6-month grace period after the due date, but a penalty shall be paid, and the amount of the penalty shall not exceed twice the granted fee.