Making Trademark Applications Easier – Immediate Notification of Incorrect Product Names

The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) has announced that it will expand the list of the Unclear Product Names guidance service which corrects incorrect product names during electronic trademark applications from the current 204 items (2023) to approximately 400 items (2024). This expansion is expected to improve convenience for applicants by preventing delays in registration caused by incorrectly listed product names.

When applying for a trademark applicants must specify clearly and precisely which products the trademark will be used on. However trademarks cannot be registered if:

More than one product is listed under a single term (multiple products).
A comprehensive term with multiple meanings is used.
The name of another registered trademark is used as the product name.
This service is available through the electronic trademark application form on the KIPO website (www.patent.go.kr). For those submitting applications in writing the list of Unclear Product Names is also available on the Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service (KIPRIS) website (www.kipris.or.kr) and the KIPO website (www.kipo.go.kr). The updated Unclear Product Names (2024 Version) list is scheduled to be released in early July.

Nam Young-taek Director of the Trademark Examination Policy Division at KIPO stated We will continue to identify and provide services for unclear product names to guide applicants in specifying clear product names during the application stage. This service is expected to reduce cases of registration delays and rejections due to product name errors thereby enhancing applicant convenience.

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