Design Protection System of South Korea and North Korea (3)

Design Examination System of South and North Korea

Both South and North Korea follows ‘Examination’ system for the Design registration.  Both South and North Korea system consist the Substantive Examination System (SES) and the Non-Substantive Examination System (NSES). South Korea operates Non-substantive Examination System for some short-term life-cycle products.  

 

The design examination period of North Korea is specified in the law (Article 19) as six month from the registration date. South Korea doesn’t’ specify in the law.  However, it takes about 1 year through the SES and takes about 3 to 4 month through the NSES.  The period can be shorten by Accelerate Examination system.



©  gementricxs | Design Museum, Korea

Design Valid Period of South and North Korea.

 

Design rights are valid or in force for 15 years from the date of registration for establishment in South Korea.  North Korea’s Design rights are valid or in force for 5 years from the date of registration application.  North Korea also allows extending valid period twice, each time 5 years. 

 

In North Korea, an applicant will lose the industrial design right if he or she doesn’t use the industrial design for two years from the date of registration for establishment.  South Korea also enforces similar system in trademark.  If the trademark has not been used in three years domestically in South Korea, the trademark registration will be canceled.  

 

DMC Tower 18th~19th Floor, 189 Sungam-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea

Global Tel: +82-2-726-1104, 1130 | Fax: +82-2-777-7334 | global@wips.co.kr

Japan Tel: +82-2-726-1113, 1107 | Fax: +82-2-777-7334 | wips-jp@wips.co.kr

China, Taiwan Tel: +82-2-726-1038, 1130 | Fax: +82-2-777-7334 | global@wips.co.kr