Following the selection of Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO, Commissioner JUN, Sang Woo) as the development partner of an online international patent application system by the World intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the organization again selected KIPO as the operation and service agency for patent information in Asian region.


At WIPO’s request last year, KIPO developed PCT-ROAD (PCT Receiving Office Administration) system that electrically receives international patent applications. This system was provided to 7 countries, including Israel, Egypt, India, Philippines, and Vietnam. This year, KIPO is planning to extend the system to other countries, such as Spain, Thailand, Singapore, and Kyrgyzstan, to meet the demand.


Based on the international confidence established between KIPO and WIPO through successfully developing and providing PCT-ROAD system, the two agreed to mutually develop an online international patent application system, adding an online patent application function to the PCT-ROAD system. Starting next year, this new system will be provided to patent offices all around the world.


WIPO highly valued the development technology and operational expertise of KIPO’s electric application system (KIPOnet), the first internet-based application system in the world. As a result, WIPO has requested that KIPO manage all operations and services related to international patent information in the Asian region. Previously, such tasks were handled exclusively by WIPO.


KIPO is moving quickly up to install an ‘Asian Patent Information Helpdesk’ by the beginning of next year to service the WIPO request. Afterward, KIPO is planning to promote the helpdesk as an ‘Asian Information Center’ by expanding its services.


The Asian Information Center will not only play the role of a helpdesk by operating patent information service and supporting technical issues, but also the role of a service center by computerizing patent documents made in the Asian region.


Commissioner JUN, Sang Woo emphasized, “WIPO is considering KIPO as the most significant partner in Asian region. By extendedly developing KIPOnet and PCT-ROAD, we are committed to raise them as world’s top brand. KIPO will also leap from the Asian hub of patent information to the world’s hub.”