Novelty Grace Period for Korean Invention Patent Application

Submitted by 页之码 on

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.

专利申请流程

  • 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 Once an examination request is made, it cannot be withdrawn, and KIPO conducts examination in the order in which the examination requests are filed.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.
  • 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.

    • via Paris Convention : 6 months from earliest priority date.
    • Hague Agreement route: 6 months from earliest priority date.
    • 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.
  • Filing Language: Korean

    via Paris Convention via Nationalization of PCT

    Necessary documents:

    1. Abstract
    2. Abstract Drawing
    3. Claim
    4. Specification
    5. Drawing

    Necessary documents:

    1. Abstract
    2. Abstract Drawing
    3. Claim
    4. Specification
    5. Drawing

    Attachments (if any)

    1. Power of Attorney
    2. Scanned Copy of Certified Priority Document / DAS
    3. Declaration of Ownership/Certification of Employment/Assignment of priority
    4. Assignment for Patent Right Transfer
    5. Notification issued by CNIPA notify the applicant the application has passed through the security review

    Attachments (if any)

    1. WIPO Publication
    2. ISR/IPRP
    3. Entering the Korean national phase 19/28/34/41 amended
    4. Power of Attorney
    5. Declaration of Ownership/Certification of Employment/Assignment of priority
    6. Assignment for Patent Right Transfer
  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Restoration of priority will not be accepted.

  • 2-3 years