Enhanced Support for IP Protection of Korean Companies Entering Europe - KIPO Expands European IP Center
Opening Ceremony of the European IP Center and IP Meeting with Local Companies Held on July 12
The government is strengthening its intellectual property (IP) protection services for Korean companies entering Europe.
The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) (Commissioner Kim Wan-ki) announced the opening of the European IP Center in Frankfurt Germany along with a meeting with local Korean companies on July 12 at 11 AM (local time).
The event celebrated the launch of the newly expanded European IP Center which has evolved from the existing overseas IP-DESK to provide broader and enhanced support functions starting this year.
To offer swift assistance to more Korean companies abroad KIPO has restructured its overseas IP centers by:
Transitioning to a regional model where one center supports multiple neighboring countries.
Stationing specialized personnel such as lawyers and patent attorneys at the centers to strengthen on-site support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
This reorganization allows Korean companies operating in 40 countries to receive continuous IP consultations and legal advice from the center’s experts and local law firms.
Locations of Overseas IP Centers (10 locations): USA (LA Washington) China (Beijing Guangzhou) Japan (Tokyo) Europe (Frankfurt) Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh) Thailand (Bangkok) India (New Delhi) Mexico (Mexico City).
The European Union (EU) as an economic community is Koreas third-largest trading partner after the USA and China with over 2000 Korean companies operating in this vast market. With the implementation of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) system last June there has been an increase in patent disputes involving Korean companies—45 cases in the past five years ranking third after the USA and China. This situation highlights the high demand for IP protection among Korean exporters. Consequently the IP-DESK in Frankfurt Germany has been expanded and reorganized into a regional European IP Center now supporting Korean companies in 10 European countries* aiming to alleviate IP issues for more Korean firms in Europe.
*Germany UK France Spain Switzerland Italy Netherlands Turkey Sweden Russia.
Following the opening ceremony KIPO held a meeting with local companies to listen to their IP-related difficulties and suggestions and discuss possible government support measures.
Companies attending the meeting requested:
Assistance in reviewing IP-related clauses in business contracts with overseas companies.
More information on government support programs.
Help with securing overseas IP rights.
Local IP legal experts pointed out frequent issues such as unauthorized pre-registration of Korean companies’ trademarks by others (e.g. agents) and delayed filing of new product designs long after public disclosure. They urged Korean companies to secure trademarks designs and patents well in advance of their overseas expansion.
KIPO Commissioner Kim Wan-ki stated “With the intensifying global protectionism and technological hegemony competition protecting IP and responding to disputes is becoming increasingly important for Korean companies expanding abroad.” He emphasized “Through the restructured overseas IP centers we plan to enhance IP support for Korean companies in more countries during their international expansion.”
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