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▷ Shortened accelerated examination period using the PPH system based on US and JP applications

Starting August 1, 2023, the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) has implemented a PPH improvement policy aimed at reducing the processing period at each examination stage for applications under accelerated examination filed through the PPH system based on Unite States (US) or Japanese (JP) applications.

Under this PPH improvement policy, when submitting a request for accelerated examination through the PPH system based on a US or JP application, the first action pendency is now shortened to 3 months from the grant of accelerated examination status.  This represents a one-month reduction compared to the previous processing time for applications under accelerated examination through PPH.  In addition, while only the first action pendency is shortened under the current acceleration examination practice, this policy further shortens the subsequent action pendency to less than 3 months.

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▷ Discontinuation of accelerated examination based on prior art search

In the revision to the Enforcement Decree of the Patent Act announced in August 2023, the option for accelerated examination based on prior art search was removed.

Accordingly, starting from January 1, 2024, the designated enforcement date of this Enforcement Decree, accelerated examination through a prior art search will no longer be available.

▷ Expanding accelerated examination practice to the fields of secondary cell and bio

This year, the KIPO established an examination division dedicated to semiconductors and included semiconductor-related applications to be subject to accelerated examination, thereby shortening the examination period in the semiconductor field to an average of 2.5 months.

Recently, the KIPO announced its plans to extend the accelerated examination practice and the expert examination practice, currently available to the semiconductor field, to other high-tech strategic industries, including secondary cell and bio fields.

The KIPO has been implementing policies to amend relevant acts and restructure its organizations, directing its examination capabilities towards cutting-edge strategic technology fields such as semiconductors, secondary cells, and biotechnology.  According to this policy, expedited examination processes can be anticipated in the semiconductor, secondary cell, and bio fields.  Nevertheless, given the KIPO’s constrained examination capacity, there is a likelihood of delays in the examination of applications in other industrial fields in the future.