One of the important means of protecting product designs on a global scale is through design patent registration. As an important innovation and manufacturing center, South Korea has attracted many companies and designers to seek design patent protection. This article will discuss the relevant time points for Korean design patent registration, including application time, review time and authorization time, to help companies understand and plan their design patent protection strategy.
1. Application time.
Document preparation and submission.
The application process for a Korean design patent usually includes preparing application documents and submitting the application. Applicants should prepare complete application documents, including application form, instructions, drawings, etc., and ensure that the documents meet relevant requirements. Applicants can submit application documents through the electronic system or by mail.
Payment of application fee.
Applicants need to pay the corresponding application fee when applying. Application fees vary depending on the type and requirements of the application. Once the application fee is successfully paid, the applicant’s application will be considered valid.
2. Review time.
Formal review.
Korean appearance patent applications will undergo formal examination after submission. Formal review is mainly to check the compliance and completeness of application documents. Typically, formalities review takes a short time and is usually completed within a few months.
Substantive review.
After passing the formal examination, the Korean Patent Office will conduct a substantive examination of the design patent application. Substantive examination mainly evaluates the technology and design of the application to determine whether it meets the requirements of patent laws. The time for substantive examination depends on the complexity of the application and the workload of the Patent Office, but usually takes about a year.
3. Authorization time.
Notification of review results.
Once the Korean Patent Office completes the substantive examination, the applicant will be notified of the examination results. Usually, the examination result notice will state the Patent Office’s examination conclusion of the application, including whether it passed the examination and whether further modifications or supplementary information are required.
Authorization time.
If the design patent application passes the review and meets the requirements of patent law, the Korean Patent Office will authorize the application and issue a patent certificate. Grant time varies depending on the complexity of the case and the workload of the Patent Office, but usually takes several months to a year.
The time points involved in Korean appearance patent registration can be planned and managed based on the application time, examination time and grant time. Applicants need to start preparing application documents at the appropriate time and submit applications on time to avoid delays. Understanding the estimate of review time and authorization time can help applicants arrange their schedules reasonably and reserve enough time to respond to possible review comments and modification requests.