How long does it take for a utility model application to be granted in Korea?

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 Once an examination request is made, it cannot be withdrawn, and KIPO conducts examination in the order in which the examination requests are filed.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

1-2 years

A 12-month novelty grace period is available if the design is disclosed by the applicant or the applicant's agent.

KIPO adopts two examination systems, the Substantive Examination System (SES) and the Partial Substantive Examination System (NSES), for designs, and the applicant has no right to choose the examination route. The Partial Substantive Examination System (NSES) is for items that are popular, easy to imitate and have a short life cycle, such as food, clothing and men's clothing (category 2), travel goods (category 3), textiles, man-made and Natural panel materials (Class 5), packaging (Class 9), decorative articles (Class 11), stationery and office equipment, artists and teaching materials (Class 19). For some designs that have been substantiated, the applicant can obtain granted within 1-2 months from the date of submission of the application, and can enjoy new procedures such as combination design and post-granted opposition. The applicant can decide whether to disclose the design at the time of granted. After paying a certain confidentiality fee, the design can be requested not to be disclosed for 3 years. There are 32 levels in the Locarno classification system, but only 31 levels are used in Korea.

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• 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.

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