Application by IPR type(unit: cases)
| Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patents | 204,775 | 209,992 | 218,975 | 226,759 | 237,998 |
| Utility Models | 6,809 | 6,232 | 5,447 | 4,981 | 4,009 |
| Subtotal | 211,584 | 216,224 | 224,422 | 231,740 | 242,007 |
| Designs | 63,453 (67,374) |
63,680 (67,721) |
65,039 (68,937) |
67,583 (71,654) |
64,787 (68,800) |
| Trademarks | 182,918 (233,892) |
200,341 (263,140) |
221,507 (288,384) |
257,933 (320,695) |
285,821 (355,614) |
| Total | 457,955 (512,850) |
480,245 (547,085) |
510,968 (581,743) |
557,256 (624,089) |
592,615 (666,421) |
Note: Figures in parentheses include multiple applications.
PCT applications (unit: cases)
| Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of applications | 15,790 | 16,991 | 18,885 | 19,675 | 20,528 |
| Growth rate | 1.3% | 7.6% | 11.1% | 4.2% | 4.3% |
International trademark applications under the Madrid System(unit: cases)
| Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Korea as office of origin | 1,053 | 1,322 | 1,419 | 1,599 | 2,012 |
| Korea as designated office | 14,362 | 14,373 | 16,509 | 13,998 | 15,400 |
International design applications under the Hague System(unit: cases)
| Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Korea as office of origin | 133 | 116 | 178 | 249 | 279 |
| Korea as designated office | 925 | 857 | 928 | 1229 | 1140 |
Average first office action pendency(unit: months)
| Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patents / Utility models | 10.4 | 10.3 | 10.8 | 11.1 | 12.2 |
| Trademarks | 5.0 | 5.5 | 6.8 | 8.9 | 10.8 |
| Designs | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.4 | 4.6 | 5.2 |
PCT international search reports and preliminary examinations undertaken by KIPO(unit: cases)
| Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Search Reports | 25,944 | 24,134 | 27,161 | 28,550 | 28,359 |
| International Preliminary Examinations | 162 | 135 | 130 | 105 | 133 |
Note: WIPO Data center('23. 4. 11.)
Registrations by IPR type(unit: cases)
| Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patents | 120,662 | 119,012 | 125,661 | 134,766 | 145,882 |
| Utility models | 2,993 | 2,715 | 2,417 | 2,056 | 1,817 |
| Subtotal | 123,655 | 121,727 | 128,078 | 136,822 | 147,699 |
| Designs | 49,293 | 49,905 | 52,850 | 50,694 | 57,545 |
| Trademarks | 116,708 | 115,025 | 125,594 | 116,153 | 136,629 |
| Total | 289,656 | 286,657 | 306,522 | 303,669 | 341,873 |
Note: Trademark registration renewals are excluded.
Trials and appeals requested(unit: cases)
| Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appeal against examiner's decision to reject application |
Patents | 4,351 | 3,624 | 2,820 | 2,110 | 2,196 |
| Utility models | 180 | 162 | 128 | 59 | 33 | |
| Designs | 90 | 102 | 58 | 50 | 49 | |
| Trademarks | 1,569 (2,295) |
1,437 (2,046) |
1,330 (1,868) |
1,021 (1,615) |
1,104 (1,724) |
|
| Subtotal | 6,190 (6,916) |
5,325 (5,934) |
4,336 (4,874) |
3,240 (3,834) |
3,382 (4,002) |
|
| Appeals against examiner's decision to dismiss amendment |
Patents | 1 | 1 | - | - | - |
| Utility models | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Designs | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | |
| Trademarks | - | - | 3 | - | 1 | |
| Subtotal | 2 | 1 | 3 | - | 2 | |
| Appeal against examiner's decision of cancellation |
Patents | - | - | - | - | - |
| Utility models | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Designs | - | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| Trademarks | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Subtotal | - | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| Trials for correction |
Patents | 136 | 128 | 127 | 119 | 150 |
| Utility models | 4 | - | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| Designs | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Trademarks | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Subtotal | 140 | 128 | 129 | 122 | 154 | |
| Invalidation | Patents | 529 | 460 | 478 | 383 | 408 |
| Utility models | 27 | 21 | 15 | 20 | 12 | |
| Designs | 194 | 207 | 215 | 188 | 152 | |
| Trademarks | 433 (486) |
472 (559) |
472 (541) |
372 (433) |
291 (342) |
|
| Subtotal | 1,183 (1,236) |
1,160 (1,247) |
1,180 (1,249) |
963 (1,024) |
863 (914) |
|
| Trials to confirm scope of IP right |
Patents | 671 | 512 | 348 | 374 | 445 |
| Utility models | 29 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 11 | |
| Designs | 136 | 151 | 136 | 169 | 155 | |
| Trademarks | 90 (102) |
158 (175) |
103 (123) |
108 (129) |
112 (123) |
|
| Subtotal | 926 (938) |
841 (858) |
608 (628) |
668 (689) |
723 (734) |
|
| Cancellation trials on trademark registration |
Patents | 1 | 1 | - | - | - |
| Utility models | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Designs | - | 17 | - | - | - | |
| Trademarks | 2,124 (2,474) |
2,523 (3,011) |
2,574 (3,193) |
2,497 (3,003) |
2,395 (2,827) |
|
| Subtotal | 2,125 (2,475) |
2,541 (3,029) |
2,574 (3,193) |
2,497 (3,003) |
2,395 (2,827) |
|
| Opposition of patent / utility model |
Patents | 109 | 150 | 174 | 146 | 154 |
| Utility models | 1 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 6 | |
| Designs | 1 | - | - | - | - | |
| Trademarks | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Subtotal | 111 | 154 | 175 | 155 | 160 | |
| Grand total | Patents | 5,798 | 4,876 | 3,947 | 3,132 | 3,353 |
| Utility models | 241 | 207 | 167 | 108 | 66 | |
| Designs | 422 | 478 | 412 | 410 | 360 | |
| Trademarks | 4,216 (5,357) |
4,590 (5,791) |
4,482 (5,728) |
3,903 (5,180) |
3,903 (5,017) |
|
| Total | 10,677 (11,818) |
10,151 (11,352) |
9,008 (10,254) |
7,553 (8,830) |
7,682 (8,796) |
Note1: Figures in parentheses include multiple applications.
Note2: Opposition of patents / Utility model has been enforced from March, 2019
* Rejection refers to appeals against examiners' decisions of refusal and appeals against examiners' decisions to dismiss utility models.
** Invalidation refers to invalidation trials and trials for invalidation of corrections.
- Last updated 20 April 2023
- Trade and Cooperation Division