Lee International

Cutting-Edge Technologies Eligible for Accelerated Examination Are Expanded to Six Technical Fields Including Biotechnology, Advanced Robot and Artificial Intelligence Technology

The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) announced that biotechnology, advanced robot and artificial intelligence technology have been newly designated as eligible for accelerated examination as of February 19, 2025. This follows an earlier inclusion of semiconductor, display technology and secondary battery. Additionally, the scope of accelerated examination for secondary battery technology has been expanded. Furthermore, KIPO has broadened the scope of accelerated examination for carbon-neutral green technologies to include the existing carbon dioxide capture technologies, as well as national strategic technologies, renewal energy technologies and related fields.

KIPO Launches Dedicated Examination Team for Biotech and Healthcare-Related Technology

In response to the rapid growth of the biotech and healthcare-related industries, and the increasing demand for swift patent protection, the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) has launched a dedicated team to handle biotech and healthcare-related patent applications. This new team consists of five divisions employing a total of 120 personnel. KIPO newly hired 35 private-sector experts as patent examiners and integrated them with the existing 85 examiners to form a specialized team dedicated to the examination of biotech and healthcare-related patent applications.

Korea Moves Toward Implementing Evidence Collecting Procedure in Patent Litigation

The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) recently announced that a proposed bill to introduce an evidence collection procedure has been submitted to the National Assembly’s Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee, initiating the legislative process. Discussions around this procedure have been ongoing since 2019, aimed at addressing the challenges of collecting evidence, often protected as trade secrets, in patent infringement litigation.

LG Electronics Leads in Global Patent Filings for AI-Integrated Robots

According to an analysis by the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), a total of 5,525 patent applications for robots integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technology were filed in the IP5 countries (Korea, the United States, China, the European Union and Japan). Over the past decade (2012-2021), the number of these applications grew at an average annual rate of 58.5%, rising sharply from just 20 filings in 2012 to 1,260 in 2021.

Launch of New .kr Domains: Domain Management Becomes Critical to Brand Protection

As of March 5, 2025, registration has officially opened for newly introduced third-level country code domains under .kr, such as ai.kr, it.kr, io.kr, and me.kr. With the growing momentum around AI and digital transformation, these domains are expected to become strategic digital assets for businesses in emerging industries. As demand accelerates, competition to secure these premium domains is expected to intensify, increasing the likelihood of disputes between trademark owners and domain name holders.

Korean Court Upholds Protection of Mark Gonzales’ Works under Copyright and Unfair Competition Law: Importance of Managing IP Licensing Agreements

In a recent decision (Case No. 2024Na2015375), the Seoul High Court upheld a lower court ruling in favor of internationally acclaimed artist Mark Gonzales in a copyright infringement and unfair competition lawsuit against Korean fashion company BKAV.