1. An intelligent assistant (AI Agent) model will be applied to the Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service (KIPRIS).
The Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP) and the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) held a project kickoff meeting for the second year of the ‘easy patent information agent model development project’ and agreed to start the project in earnest.
This model development was part of the proposals to be promoted through a ‘public AI transformation project’ of MSIT. Last year, MOIP proposed the development of the ‘easy patent information agent’ to lower barriers in accessing patent information for the general public in MSIT’s competition for proposals of the ‘public AI transformation project’. This model development was selected in the competition and has realized patent document summaries, patent description function based on chatbot, etc.
This year, the second year of the project, the functions of the agent model will be expanded to be applied to KIPRIS of MOIP to easily explain patent documents, which may be somewhat unfamiliar and difficult, to the user’s level and to support to make it possible to understand technical content and search for similar technologies through communications with an intelligent assistant as needed.
KIPRIS is a service provided by MOIP to anyone that can search, for free, approximately 140 million pieces of intellectual property information collected at home and in 29 foreign countries.
This kickoff meeting was held to introduce a KIPRIS’ plan on how to apply the developed model as well as the agent model development process and for the participants to discuss how to activate KIPRIS’ utilization of the agent functions.
The director general for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Policy of MSIT said, “we hope MOIP’s project to proceed with the patent information agent development and demonstration will be a representative example of AI becoming part of everyday life which is tangible for the public…MSIT will also make every effort to expand AI services that people can feel in their daily lives, through the public AI transformation project.”
The director of the Intellectual Property Information Bureau of MOIP said, “anyone will be able to easily and conveniently search and use patent information by applying the intelligent assistant (AI Agent) to the intellectual property information search service…we expect that patent information which has been used only by experts due to complex document composition and difficult technical terminology, will be widely used by all citizens through this opportunity.”
2. A planned crackdown on counterfeit K-pop fan products was conducted around BTS concert.
- A culture of respecting intellectual property rights was simultaneously promoted through exhibitions of comparing genuine and fake products.
MOIP launched an all-round crackdown on counterfeit K-pop fan products distributed online and offline taking advantage of the concert of idol group, BTS . It was a method of combining crackdowns, public awareness campaigns and online monitoring by leveraging the surge in local and international fans visiting the concert venue.
The trademark special judicial police of MOIP (hereinafter, referred to as the ‘trademark police’) conducted an intensive crackdown on counterfeit products and promoted the spread of culture of respecting intellectual property rights around the BTS concert venue (Ilsan, Gyeonggi-do) area on April 9, 2026. This measure was conducted to spread the culture of genuine consumption and to eradicate counterfeit products among domestic and international fans visiting K-pop venues.
① A planned crackdown on counterfeit K-pop fan products was conducted around BTS concert.
On the day of the performance, crackdowns were conducted focusing on the commercial areas around the concert venue. At the site, intensive inspections were conducted on the act of sale of counterfeit fan products related to K-pop and whether there was any infringement of trademark rights. If any violations were discovered, strict measures would be taken in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations. Especially, the plan was to strengthen crackdowns on the day of the performance and during the period before and after, thereby increasing the response effect aimed at the period when fan demand was concentrated.
In addition, prior to the performance, the period of intensive crackdown on online counterfeit K-pop fan products (March 16~April 9) was set. During this period, the ‘online counterfeit product home monitoring team’ was deployed to block listings for counterfeit products posted on major online trading sites, such as open markets, Nuri communication networks, and portals, etc. It is the intention to completely block the distribution of counterfeit products through the integrated online-offline response system.
② A campaign for a culture of respecting intellectual property rights was also conducted to spread the culture of genuine consumption.
At the performance site, a campaign was also conducted for fans to participate in. Genuine and counterfeit products were comparatively exhibited, and a notice, “purchasing genuine products is an act of supporting artists’, was delivered through a participatory program, such as certification event, etc.
MOIP has plans to continue intensive crackdowns on major counterfeit product distribution bases by further strengthening cooperation with trademark owners and the related organizations in the future and to develop various public relations activities such that consumers can fully recognize the illegality and danger of purchasing counterfeit products.
Prior to this action, the trademark police confiscated a total of about 27,000 counterfeit K-pop fan products (photo cards, keyrings, mugs, etc.), such as BTS, etc., through the planned crackdowns in Seoul and Busan in February ~ March, and booked five suspects without detention on charges of violating the Trademark Act.
HYBE, which is the top entertainment lifestyle platform company In the Republic of Korea, said, “since the value of artist’s intellectual property (IP) comes from the unwavering support of fans, it is most important to protect it…in order to build a virtuous cycle in which using genuine products protects artists’ rights, we will cooperate with MOIP and will make every effort to block the distribution of counterfeit products and to improve awareness.
3. MOIP published the 2026 trademark guidelines for goods and services which have been significantly revised.
- New industry names, such as AI, cryptocurrency, etc., have been added and international classification standards have been reflected.
MOIP published the ‘2026 guidelines for goods and services,’ incorporating heavily revised notified product names, so that applicants can more easily select goods and services to be protected when filing trademark applications.
The guidelines, which were first published in March 2024, comprehensively and comparatively organize the definitions, relevant classes, functions and uses, etc. of goods or services. The guidelines are available at MOIP website (www.moip.go.kr) and have been widely used with an increase in the number of views in 2025 compared to 2024 by about 2.6 times (from 18,827 in 2024 to 49,539 in 2025).
Notably, the guidelines published at this time include a total of 57,550 latest goods and services, such as the goods and services reflecting rapid changes in industry and the revised matters in the international classification for goods and services according to the Nice Agreement.
For example, the goods and services used in new industries, such as a real-time language translation service using AI, a cryptocurrency payment processing service, etc., have been added, and the revised matters to the Nice Agreement, such as a change in the classification for glasses and contact lens-related goods (from Class 9 with optical apparatus, etc. to Class 10 with medical apparatus), etc., have been reflected.
The director of the Trademark and Design Examination Bureau of MOIP said, “selecting accurate designated goods and services is the key in filing a trademark application and securing a trademark right… we will continue to provide goods and services which reflect industrial changes and transaction conditions in a timely manner, to improve the convenience of applicants.”
4. The government will also step up as a trademark owner in the problem of counterfeit products.
- Product authentication technology and government-wide cooperation makes it possible to monitor and respond to the distribution of overseas counterfeit products in real-time.
(Case 1) Cosmetic export company “A” confirmed that counterfeit products of its own products were distributed at a certain local market in country “X” and requested the local authorities to conduct investigation and crackdown on it. However, the crackdown failed by uncooperative attitude of the local authorities, and the investigation has not progressed for 2 years.
(Case 2) Korean food company “B” filed a trial for damages for infringement of counterfeit products in country “Y” and won. However, since the amount of damages was only 47 million Korea Won which was less than the local lawyer’s fees (60 million Korea Won), company “B” has serious concerns about having to file additional lawsuits in the future.
The government has directly rolled up its sleeves to solve the problem of rapidly increasing counterfeit products of K-brand products in foreign countries. MOIP officially announced to introduce the ‘government-certified K-brand system’ in a cabinet meeting on March 31, 2026. According to MOIP, from the second half of this year, the government plans to fully operate a system that, as an owner of a certified K-brand trademark, it directly responds to the production and distribution of counterfeit products overseas.
This means that, going one step further than the traditional approach in which a company individually responds to counterfeit products, the system will change so that the government, as a trademark owner, is able to directly call on the local authorities to act.
Overview and procedures of government-certified K-brand system
Overview of government-certified K-brand system
Government-certified K-brand trademark is a trademark verified as a Korean company’s product by the government.
⇒ After developing a trademark certified in that the government is a right owner (June 2026), it will be carried forward to be registered overseas in 70 countries.
Filing an application and registration for a government-certified trademark in 70 overseas countries → Requesting for and permission of the use of a certified trademark → Applying a product authentication technology → Monitoring results of checking authenticity → Government’s direct response in the event of an infringment
MOIP Company and MOPI, etc. MOIP MOIP Government-wide joint
The overseas distribution of counterfeit products imitating K-brands has been already at a serious level. According to the announcement of the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2024, the global distribution scale of counterfeit products of K-brands was estimated to reach around 11 trillion Korea Won, and specifically, the companies’ sales were estimated to decrease by 7 million Korea Won, jobs to lose by 14,000 jobs, and the government tax revenue to lose by 1.8 trillion Korea Won. Nevertheless, the fact was that there were limitations to the victim company’s individual response due to difficulties in identifying the production and distribution channels of counterfeit products, the passive investigations and crackdowns of local authorities, and low compensation for damages, etc.
The key of the newly introduced system is that the government will go beyond its previous role of supporting companies and directly secure a trademark right overseas and respond as an owner of the right.
In other words, the government will directly register certified a K-brand trademark in major exporting countries and 70 exporting countries with a high risk of counterfeit product distribution, Korean companies can voluntarily affix the certified trademark to their own products. In the event that an infringement occurs, the government will mobilize all pan-governmental response measures, such as diplomacy, trade, etc., to the relevant local authorities.
The latest product authentication technology applies to the certified K-brand products. Overseas consumers are able to immediately check whether the relevant products are authentic by scanning the products with mobile phone cameras. The Korean government can identify in real-time whether the products are counterfeits through the monitoring system connected to the scanned data. When the distribution of counterfeit products is confirmed, the relevant ministries and agencies, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and Korea Customs Service, etc., will cooperate to immediately respond by requesting overseas local authorities to conduct investigations and crackdowns and requesting for suspension of release by customs authorities, etc.
With the introduction of this system, Korean export companies are expected to greatly reduce time and cost burden required to respond to counterfeit products, thereby strengthening their export competitiveness, and overseas consumers are expected to have an environment to purchase authentic K-brand products with confidence. Notably, since the current status of distribution of counterfeit products can be monitored in real-time, more precise and effective crackdowns are possible and brand reliability is expected to increase further.
5. MOIP held a 20th IP5 working group on information technology (WG2) and industry consultation meeting in Seoul.
- The meeting was held to promote the cooperation among IP5 regarding the utilization of informatized new technology, such as AI, etc., and the improvement of the examination information sharing system, etc.
According to MOIP, the 20th IP5 working group on information technology and industry consultation meeting was held at Sofitel Ambassador Seoul Hotel from March 30 through April 2, 2026, to discuss current patent informatization issues of five IP offices (IP5).
IP5, which accounts for about 85% of the world’s patent applications (as of 2024), is composed of government agencies (MOIP, USPTO, CNIPA, JPO and EPO) which coordinate intellectual property policies in the Republic of Korea, the US, Japan, China and Europe. IP5 has been leading intellectual property issues around the world by operating the committee of experts for cooperation in each of the working groups of patent classification (WG1), patent information (WG2) and examination policies (WG3). One of the great achievements is the establishment of an international patent examination information-sharing system (one portal dossier: OPD) in which examiners and companies, etc. can easily check the examination process information of patent applications filed with IP5.
In this meeting, about 70 people including those in charge of IP5 informatization, officials of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and industry representatives from IP5 countries, etc. attended online and offline to discuss, in depth, 21 agendas including the utilization of the new information technologies, such as AI, etc., and the improvement of the international patent examination information-sharing system, etc. IP5 representatives put their heads together to continue to discover various improvement tasks for the convenience of applicants as well as the information cooperation including the international patent examination information-sharing system. They plan to share the cases on how each of IP5 countries applies AI to the intellectual property field and to expand cooperation tasks accordingly.
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