KIPO conducts formality examination and substantive examination of invention patent applications. Only after the application documents meet the conditions of formality examination, KIPO will assign the patent to the application number. Publication is completed within 18 months from the filing date/priority date. The applicant/interested party shall submit a substantive examination request no later than 5 years from the filing date. Once an examination request is made, it cannot be withdrawn, and KIPO conducts examination in the order in which the examination requests are filed. Patent applications that meet the grant conditions will be granted.
- Grant fee: The applicant needs to pay the granted fee within 3 months after receiving the notification of the granted decision, and pay the annual fee for the first to third years at the same time.
- Annuity: The annual fee is paid year by year starting from the fourth year from the filing date, and the amount of the annual fee depends on the number of Claim. Annuitys can also be paid. If the annual fee is overdue, it can be paid within the 6-month grace period after the due date, but an 18% penalty must be paid at the same time.
- 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.
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Korean Industrial Property Office
English: Korea Intellectual Property Office, abbreviation: KIPO
Website: Korean Intellectual Property Office (kipo.go.kr)
Korean Invention Patent Search: Integrated Search < SEARCH - KIPRIS Patent Information searching service
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- via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date.
- via Nationalization of PCT : 31 months from earliest priority date.
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- 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.
20 years, and the protection can be extended to 25 years for pesticides or medicines.
yes. The type of patent can be changed from invention to utility model within 30 days of receiving the grant/rejection decision, and the corresponding fee should be paid.