Patents & Utility Models
History of the Korean patent system
- 1908 : The Patent Decree laid the foundation in Korea for institutionalizing intellectual property
- 1946 : The Patent Institute was established and patent laws were enacted
- 1961 : The patent laws were divided into four industrial property laws: the Patent Act, the Utility Model Act, the Trademark Act, and the Design Act
- 1977 : The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) was established as an independent office under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy
- 1979 : Korea joined the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
- 1980 : Korea joined the Paris Convention
- 1984 : Korea joined the Patent Cooperation Treaty
- Last updated 27 April 2023
- Patent Legal Administration Division