Accessing foreign patents for research and development is expected to become easier.


Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO, Commissioner JUN, Sang Woo) announced that KIPO begins full text service for patent documents from the USA, Japan, and European countries, through a free industrial property search service KIPRIS (www.kipris.or.kr) this year.

Until now, the KIPRIS service has provided only the abstract of foreign patent documents. The full text service has been decided to begin in February 2006, answering to the growing demands of access to foreign patent documents.


It would be easier to search the full text of foreign patent documents due to the decision. There would be no need to visit the homepages of each country, repeating the searching process with low connection speed.

The KIPRIS service will also make it more effective for research and development activities, with high accuracy and efficiency of patent information thanks to the simultaneous search capability for domestic and foreign patents.


Furthermore, the KIPRIS site service would get even more accessible this March. You will no longer need to login to use the search service.


It is expected that people would be able to use patent information more quickly and more conveniently. It is also anticipated that more foreign examiners would use the KIPRIS English search service, therefore improving the protection of
Korean intellectual property rights in foreign countries.