• Application by IPR type
500,000 in Annual IPR Filings:
In 2019, the total volume of IPR filings for a one-year period increased 6.1% from the previous year. For the first time, there were almost half a million IPR annual fillings.
A breakdown of IP rights shows that: the total preliminary number of IPR applications, including patents, utility models, designs, and trademarks, submitted to KIPO in 2019 amounted to 493,531; this was a 6.1% increase from 2018. In 2019, patent applications totaled 218,975, showing a 4.3% increase since 2018; Utility model applications decreased by 12.6% as compared to 2018, totaling 5,447, and this was the highest decline rate among all IPRs; Design applications increased 2.1% for a total of 64,111 and Trademark applications for 2019 totaled 204,998, a 10.2% increasee from 2018.
< Industrial property applications by type >
| Category | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patents | 213,694 | 208,830 | 204,775 | 209,992 | 218,975 |
| Utility Models | 8,711 | 7,767 | 6,811 | 6,232 | 5,447 |
| Subtotal | 222,405 | 216,597 | 211,586 | 216,224 | 224,422 |
| Designs |
67,954
(70,190) |
64,678
(66,728) |
62,528
(64,986) |
62,823
(65,434) |
64,111
(66,637) |
| Trademarks |
185,443
(239,334) |
170,347
(204,012) |
168,556
(202,539) |
185,968
(232,109) |
204,998
(252,309) |
| Total |
475,802
(533,929) |
451,622
(696,167) |
442,670
(485,922) |
465,015
(513,767) |
493,531
(543,368) |
[Note: Figures in parentheses include multiple applications.]
• The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
KIPO's yearly PCT applications reached 20,000 after a 5.2% year-on-year increase. KIPO secured ranked 4th with the most PCT International Applications under the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Furthermore, the number of yearly PCT applications from South Korea surpassed 20,000 for the first time, having doubled within a decade (10,357 applications in 2011, 19,073 applications in 2019 and 20,060 applications in 2020).
In 2020, use of the PCT continued to grow despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and reached an estimated 275,900 applications1
– the highest number ever – representing a 4% increase over 2019.
< PCT international applications: top 5 origins >
| Rank | Country | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 Estimate | Share 2020(%) | Change from 2019(%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 53,445 | 59,193 | 68,720 | 24.9% | 16.1% |
| 2 | United States of America | 56,172 | 57,499 | 59,230 | 21.5% | 3.0% |
| 3 | Japan | 49,703 | 52,693 | 50,520 | 18.3% | -4.1% |
| 4 | Republic of Korea | 16,919 | 19,073 | 20,060 | 7.3% | 5.2% |
| 5 | Germany | 19,754 | 19,358 | 18,643 | 6.8% | -3.7% |
[Source: WIPO Statistics Database, March 2021 / PCT Yearly review 2021]
• Maintaining the fast examination pendency
In 2019, KIPO's 's annual average first office action pendency period was recorded at 10.8 months for patent and utility model rights, 6.8 months for trademarks and 5.4 months for design rights.
< Average first office action pendency >
(unit: months)
| Category | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patents & Utility Models | 10.0 | 10.6 | 10.4 | 10.3 | 10.8 |
| Trademarks | 4.7 | 4.8 | 5 | 5.5 | 6.8 |
| Designs | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.4 |
• PCT international search reports and preliminary examinations undertaken by KIPO
The number of PCT international searches undertaken by KIPO totaled 27,167 in 2019, this was a 12.6% increase from 2018 which was 24,123. The number of international preliminary examinations undertaken by KIPO in 2019 was 131.
(unit: cases)
| Category | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Search Reports | 28,468 | 28,176 | 25,955 | 24,123 | 27,167 |
| International Preliminary Examinations | 208 | 209 | 169 | 131 | 131 |
• Registrations by IPR type
The total number of registrations for intellectual property rights in 2019 reached 306,522, a 6.9% increase from 286,659 in 2018.
A breakdown of IP rights shows that: patent registrations reached 125,661, a 5.6% increase from 2018; utility models decreased by 11.0% to 2,417; and designs increased by 5.9% to 52,850. Further, trademark registrations increased by 9.2%, totaling 125,594.
(unit: cases)
| Category | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patents | 101,873 | 108,875 | 120,662 | 119,014 | 125,661 |
| Utility Models | 3,253 | 2,854 | 2,993 | 2,715 | 2,417 |
| Subtotal | 105,126 | 111,729 | 123,655 | 121,729 | 128,078 |
| designs | 54,551 | 55,602 | 49,293 | 49,905 | 52,850 |
| Trademarks | 114,746 | 119,255 | 116,704 | 115,025 | 125,594 |
| Total | 274,423 | 286,586 | 289,652 | 286,659 | 306,522 |
[Note: Trademark registration renewals are excluded.]
• Trials and appeals requested
The number of trial requests decreased by 11.3% to 9,008, from 10,151 in 2018. A look at IP statistics shows that: patents decreased by 19.1% to total 3,947; utility models decreased by 19.3% to total 167; trademarks decreased by 2.4% for a total of 4,482; and designs decreased by 13.8% to total 412.
(unit: cases)
| Category | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patents | 9,112 | 6,796 | 5,689 | 4,876 | 3,947 |
| Utility Models | 252 | 306 | 240 | 207 | 167 |
| designs | 477(486) | 512 | 421 | 478 | 412 |
| Trademarks |
4,145
(5,395) |
4,346
(5,544) |
4,216
(5,357) |
4,590
(5,791) |
4,482
(5,728) |
| Total |
13,986
(15,245) |
11,960
(13,158) |
10,566
(11,565) |
10,151
(11,352) |
9,008
(10,254) |
[Note1: Figures in parentheses include multiple applications.]
[Note2: Opposition of patents / Utility model has been enforced from March, 2019]
