Which is the competent authority for utility model patent applications in Korea?

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

20 years, and the protection can be extended to 25 years for pesticides or medicines.

Restoration of priority will not be accepted.

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.

• 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.

2-3 years

20 years

• 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 will be paid year by year starting from the fourth year from the filing date. The amount of the annual fee depends on the number of Claim, and the annual fee can also be paid. If the annual fee is overdue, it can be paid within the 6-month late payment period after the due date, but a 200% penalty must be paid at the same time.

KIPO conducts formality examination and substantive examination of utility model patent applications, but only needs to meet the standards of novelty and practicality, and does not require inventive step.

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.