In the wake of the outbreak of the COVID pandemic, there has been a substantial shift from the real world to the metaverse in the way trademarks are used. South Korea, an IT leader and content/design powerhouse, is one of the c…READ MORE

BackgroundPatenting polymorphs of crystalline forms of chemical compounds is a very important patent strategy, particularly for pharmaceutical companies when they wish to make their patent portfolios strong and long-lasting. Ho…READ MORE

South Korea allows a one-year grace period for pre-filing disclosures by inventors or applicants so that these disclosures are not regarded as prejudicial prior art in terms of novelty and inventiveness (Article 30 of the Paten…READ MORE

Min Son of Hanol IP & Law summarises the key points of the Korean Intellectual Property Office’s updated guidance regarding artificial intelligence patent filings as the intellectual property world adapts to a growing areaThe …READ MORE

Min Son of Hanol IP & Law explains how the Korean boy band BTS helped reshape unfair competition law and the protection of publicity rights in South KoreaReaders may have heard of names such as Squid Game, Blackpink, Baby Shar…READ MORE

Min Son of Hanol IP & Law explains the changes to the South Korean Patent Act, which include some good news for applicantsAs of April 20 2022, the revisions to the South Korean Patent Act (KPA) became effective. The major cha…READ MORE

Min Son of Hanol IP & Law discusses a recent case in which the Fishcake Restaurant trademark was invalidated because the owner sold sausage stew, rather than fishcakesThe South Korean Patent Court recently ruled that the trade…READ MORE

Min Son of Hanol IP & Law looks at the safeguards available as the separated application comes into effect in South Korea during April 2022On October 19 2021, the Korean Patent Act was amended to allow a ‘separated application…READ MORE

Min Son of Hanol IP & Law looks at the changing trend of how courts are determining the similarity of trademarks in South KoreaReflecting the changes in the current market situation, it is noteworthy that Korean courts’ recent…READ MORE

Min Son of Hanol IP & Law looks at the alternatives available when South Korea does not acknowledge safeguards for missing deadlines as provided in the WIPO’s Patent Cooperation Treaty rulesIn South Korea, a one-year grace per…READ MORE

Min Son of Hanol IP & Law considers the use of a re-filing strategy against non-use cancellationSince the Supreme Court dropped the ‘registration defense’ for later-registered marks by anen bancrulingin early 2021, even the u…READ MORE

Min Son of Hanol IP & Law summarises the eligible drugs, the re-examination period and strategies available for companiesAs of May5 2021, a four-year re-examination period for post-marketing surveillance (PMS) can be granted …READ MORE

Min Son of Hanol IP & Law explains how the recent Supreme Court en banc ruling changes precedents on infringement by the use of later-registered trademarksIn Korea, unlike for patents, utility models and designs, in the case …READ MORE

Min Son of Hanol IP & Law describes how patent challenges have become even more important under the revised drug pricing framework in South KoreaThe government announced a plan to restructure the generic drug pricing system w…READ MORE

Min Son of Hanol IP & Law looks at how the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) and the Korean courts have judged the registrability and validity of pharmaceutical trademarks according to more specific criteriaTrademarks…READ MORE