□ On June 1, KIPO (Commissioner, Kim, Jong-kap) announced the initiation of the international search and international preliminary examination for New Zealand’s PCT patent applications.

o This is in response to the mutual agreement made at the talk between the commissioners of Korea and New Zealand held in Wellington, New Zealand on March 30, 2005.

o Procedural requirements for the revision of
the “Convention for service relating to the PCT treaty between KIPO and WIPO” and the conclusion of “Convention for the execution of international search and international preliminary examination between Korea and New Zealand” were fulfilled as of May 20 and, with that, the conventions took effect starting June 1.

□ According to the PCT treaty, the international search and international preliminary examination for international patent applications under the treaty can be conducted only by patent offices of 11 countries that had been authorized to perform
the examination capability internationally.

o KIPO, since its designation as an International Preliminary Examination Authority (IPEA) and International Search Authority (ISA) at the WIPO General Assembly on September 1997, has provided the services to not only domestic PCT applications but also those of Vietnam, Philippines, India, Indonesia, and Mongol.


※ 6 countries designated KIPO as PCT ISA and IPEA:

Philippines (2001), Vietnam (2002), India (2003), Indonesia (2003), Mongol (2004), Singapore (2004)


□ This agreement is a meaningful occasion for it is the first case of exporting the KIPO’s service to a 1st world country as the credibility of KIPO’s examination service rises.


o With the conclusion of the Convention with New Zealand, KIPO plans to extend signing of Conventions with major international organizations and patent offices of other major countries including US, Japan, China, and EU.


□ Within KIPO, over 300 examiners with PhD reside providing the top quality examination service utilizing a patent information DB with over 110 million cases. Moreover, KIPOnet II, a cutting-edge intelligent patent administration information system, began its 24hour operation. With such world class examination competency, KIPO was ranked the 5th with its international search and international preliminary examination service as of late 2004.

o With this Convention, KIPO will benefit from international fees from the international search and international preliminary examination of PCT applications by New Zealand. In addition, it will raise the status of Korea and provide a stepping stone for further cooperation with patent offices of leading countries.

Source: KIPO press material 2005-06-03