1. The world’s patent examination information will be on-line confirmed
In the future, it will be possible to confirm, in cyber space, the patent examination information of every country. On June 7, 2012, the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) announced that they agreed to build a global patent examination information system for the worldwide patent users, together with the Intellectual Property Offices of the US, Japan, China and Europe which are the members of the five (5) advanced intellectual property countries (IP5). The leading role was by the Republic of Korea in the agreement to build the system.
The Commissioner (Ho-Won KIM) of KIPO attended the Commissioner’s Meeting of the IP5 which was held for three (3) days (from June 4~6) in Corsica Island, France. He proposed the building of a ‘global cyber intellectual property office’ through a keynote speech titled ‘New prospect of global intellectual property cooperation’ and had the positive support of the member countries.
The IP5 member countries agreed to install a task force (TF) to early start the global patent examination information required for realizing the global cyber intellectual property office’ and to finalize the building of the system by 2016. When the global cyber intellectual property office is built, patent applicants can confirm the information related to patent examination proceedings in the global intellectual property office. An applicant can directly manage an application filed in a foreign country which has been performed by a patent attorney selected in the foreign country.
KIPO expected that an applicant’s cost and time related to the management of an application filed in a foreign country would be greatly reduced.
2. A program of improving a design value of a local medium/small company has a great result
- KIPO starts supporting 139 companies this year
As the KIPO’s program of improving a design value of a local medium/small company has been helpful in securing a design right and increasing sales, it receives the responses from medium/small companies.
Since the program to support the improvement of the design value for a local medium/small company has had good results, KIPO decided to increase the support from 3.4 billion won (including local government matching fund) last year to 4.85 billion won and to support 139 local medium/small companies.
According to an analysis of KIPO, the product designs and package designs of 129 medium/small companies were supported last year. Through this support, there was an increase in the filing of intellectual property applications of the companies by 78%, sales by 26% and employment by 8%, thereby contributing to the vitalization of local economy.
3. The localization rate of semiconductor layout property is enhanced twice
- KIPO carries forward a promotion program of semiconductor layout property
- A great exhibition of Korean semiconductor layout was open on June 4, 2012
KIPO announced that they would expand support for the development and distribution of semiconductor layout property by inputting 8 billion won for three (3) years starting in 2012, to improve the localization rate of semiconductor layout property from 15%, at present, to 30%.
The works having excellent technical skills and economic feasibility were found through the great exhibition of semiconductor layout. This was verified from the fact that among the 55 award-winning works for the last four (4) years, 42 works were registered as intellectual property rights, such as layout design rights, and 9 works were commercialized.
The award-winning work(s) will have many benefits, such as the transaction support through the program to support the distribution of semiconductor layout property, and the add-points when a winner receiving a prize from the government is appointed as a medium/small innobiz (innovation business).
4. A trend of the filing of applications for hybrid electric vehicles
According to KIPO, 3,328 patent applications in the hybrid electric vehicles field were filed during the last ten (10) years. Among these applications, 2,489 applications were filed by Korean applicants, about three (3) times the applications filed by foreign applicants. This means that domestic research and development were rapidly increased.
Specifically, as Hyundai Motor holds 41% (1,367 applications) of the total of the relevant applications, it is considered as most actively proceeding with research and development to secure the patent technology. In addition, the component manufacturers including Halla Climate Control, Hyundai Mobis and Mando are regarded as making considerable efforts for the patent preoccupancy.
Based on the patent application trends by countries, the Republic of Korea filed 75% (2,489 applications) and Japan filed 14% (458 applications), showing that these countries filed more applications in comparison with the US and Europe. However, China filed only 5 applications and therefore it has a big gap compared with the advanced countries in the hybrid technology belonging to the high technology.
Hyundai Motor has the original patent technologies of the parallel hard type hybrid system which is successful in commercialization for the first time in the world. These original patent technologies include an electricity generation control method in a power plant when charging a hybrid electric vehicle; a hybrid vehicle control method as a vehicle control technology; and a hybrid vehicle transmission as a transmission device.
Further, the component technologies include: a battery cooling system by Halla Climate Control; a regeneration brake by Hyundai Mobis; and a regeneration braking method of a vehicle having an electric motor by Mando.
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