[International IP Briefing] KR, five IP offices

 

KR

On January 19, 2021, the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) reported that the 'Overseas Online Counterfeit Product Home Monitoring Team (hereinafter referred to as 'Monitoring Team')' detected a total of 144,000 posts for counterfeit products for about 5 months from August to the end of December 2020. It was revealed that it produced a damage prevention effect of US$370 million by blocking it.

The monitoring team was launched to strengthen responses against counterfeit product distribution to ASEAN 6 countries࣠    and Taiwan and contribute to the creation of non-face-to-face and digital jobs. They monitored postings of counterfeit products targeting Lazada and Shopee, the 1st and 2nd largest ASEAN online shopping mall.

By country, the number of counterfeit products detected and blocked in the order of the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, etc.

By item, K-POP goods and fashion miscellaneous goods accounted for 70% of the total, 19.12% for children and toddlers, 9.27% ​​for beauty, and 0.49% for digital electronics.

▲ clipartkorea.co.kr

KIPO added that from this year, as the budget related to supplementary administration was secured as the current budget in '21, the monitoring team will continue to operate to minimize damage to the distribution of counterfeit products by Korean exporting companies.

࣠   ASEAN 6 countries; Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines

< Source >

The original text of this post, refer to the following;

 https://www.kiip.re.kr/board/trend/view.do?bd_gb=trend&bd_cd=1&bd_item=0&po_item_gb=&currentPage=2&po_no=20170

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five IP offices

On January 12, 2021, the Patent Offices of five advanced countries(IP5) released the 'IP5 Statistics Report 2019'؂

▲ fiveipoffices.org

Patent offices in five advanced countries (US, Japan, China, Korea, and Europe) have compiled and reported IP5 patent application and registration statistics and the operation status of the patent office every year since 2011.

The main contents of the 2019 IP5 Statistical Report are as follows

   1. IP5 statistics

The number of patent applications filed for IP5 in 2019 was about 2.7 million, a 4% decrease from the previous year, but the number of patent registrations reached 1.6 million, an increase of 5.9% from the previous year.

Patent applications increased at the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO, +4.3%), the European Patent Office (EPO, +4.1%), and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO, +4.1%), but the Japanese Patent Office (JPO, -1.8%) and China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA, -9.2%) decreased

Except for the JPO, the number of patent registrations granted by the other patent offices have increased.

   2. IP5 major performance in 2019

(IP5) 

In June 2019, the 12th IP5 Intellectual Property Office Chairman's Meeting was held in Incheon, Korea to launch the 'New Technology/Artificial Intelligence' Task Force, and adopted a joint declaration for IP5 cooperation.

(EPO) 

The EPO established the “Strategic Plan 2023”, and the period until the first action (FA) notification is maintained less than 6 months.

(JPO) 

JPO implemented measures aimed at the fastest and highest level of patent examination, and achieved a FA period of 9.5 months and a patent grant period of 14.3 months.

(KIPO) 

The average FA period for patents and utility models reached 10.8 months

(CNIPA) 

‘Opinion on Strengthening Intellectual Property Rights Protection’ was announced, and the number of patent registrations increased by 4.8% compared to the previous year.

(USPTO) 

Hosted an international conference on artificial intelligence and intellectual property policy inviting IP experts from around the world.

؂For the original text of this report, refer to the website, https://www.fiveipoffices.org/statistics/statisticsreports/2019edition/2019edition

 

< Source >

The original text of this post, refer to the following;

https://www.kiip.re.kr/board/trend/view.do?bd_gb=trend&bd_cd=1&bd_item=0&po_item_gb=&currentPage=2&po_no=20168

WIPS Global, 30 days FREE TRIAL

 

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Best use of search result, My Folder

 

My Folder is a place for users to manage patent documents of interest (or search result) that they have by search or analysis.

In the past, it was just a simple feature to save patents or search queries but now it’s evolved to a work space where you can manage the saved/classify documents but also analyze technologies. In addition, it enables to use WIPS Global more conveniently and efficiently by linking with various analysis features such as Easy Viewer, Download, and SmartAngle.

The main features of My Folder is 'Patent Folder' where you can save documents and track the latest status, a 'Query Folder' that save search queries, and a 'Query Histories' that manages search query histories. From now on, let's look at each feature in more detail.

▲ wipsglobal.com> My Folder> Patent Folder

1. Patent Folder

If you save patent documents in My Folder, you can manage the saved documents with various functions. Max. 300,000 documents are saved in all folders, and you can create a new folder as many as you want. When multiple folders are created, a Folder Tree is created on the left of the web page. By using the setting icon of each folder, you can create a new folder or sort existing folders, operate a folder with another, share folders with other users, etc., and select all folders or specific documents within the folder. Also conduct another kind of works immediately by analysis/review features- SmartAngle, Easy Viewer, Dual Viewer, Reports, downloads, and SmartCloud that are connected to My Folder.

▲ wipsglobal.com> My Folder> Patent Folder> Classification tag

   ⬛ Patent Folder> Classification tag

You can create a tag list for each folder, and if you tag each document, you can classify many patents more easily and quickly. You can select multiple documents and assign tags with the same name at once. At this time, documents with tags duplicated are displayed in the list (Ⓘ of the below image)

▲ wipsglobal.com> My Folder> Patent Folder> Flag, Memo

   ⬛ Patent Folder> Flag

Among the saved patent documents, there may be documents more important or essential. When you need to mark these documents, you can use the ② flag which is convenient when only these documents need to be reviewed first with the flag sorting.

   ⬛ Patent Folder> Memo

You can leave a memo on the saved documents. ③ Make a memo clicking the right memo icon, and the document with memo is shown as an orange icon, and the memo contents is shown when the mouse is over. You can also find saved memo by searching within the folder.

▲ wipsglobal.com> My Folder> Patent Folder> Highliter

   ⬛ Patent Folder> Highlighter

16 highlighters can be set up. You can put more keywords now.

▲ wipsglobal.com> My Folder> Operating folder

   ⬛ Patent Folder> Operating folder

Folder operation makes it possible to manage documents by the concept of a set in mathematics.

You will need to combine documents saved in each different folders or check the same documents saved in several folders. You can use the folder operation  when you want to combine, select or sort out the only duplicate patents.

Click the gear icon in the list of the Folder tree.

①  Combine documents saved in two different folder (combination set), ② subtract duplicate cases of the selected folder from the root folder (difference of set), and ③ extract only common documents (intersection).

The result of the operation can be saved in an existing folder or in a new folder.

▲ wipsglobal.com> My Folder> Sharing folder

   ⬛ Patent Folder> Folder sharing

Folder sharing to review and work with team members or colleagues together. It’s only possible within the same group identified by IP addresses. You can just search by user name or ID to share your folders. Also, if you have been shared a folder, shared folders are just shown below your folder tree (provided only for the same group).

▲ wipsglobal.com> My Folder> Query Folder

2. Query Folder

You can save and manage search queries that you used or new queries. Up to 2000 cases are saved in the entire folder, and the saved queries can be registered for SDI service or memo, and download (excel format). In the folder tree of query folders, you can manage folders such as creating, changing, or sharing just like patent folders.

▲ wipsglobal.com> My Folder> Query History

3. Query History

There are times when you need to find a search queries that you searched before or check search conditions. In the query history, the queries you used before, time, number of results, and conditions that have been set are automatically saved by date.

Up to 2000 cases, user search conditions and results (queries, time, number of result, etc) are saved, and re-search is processed just by clicking the search icon.

So far, we have looked at the main features of My Folder in detail. Try yourself to manage patent documents efficiently with the My Folder of the WIPS Global.

 

Patents for the elderly to prepare for the super aging society

 

As the aging population increases, the proportion of the population who suffers from various physical disorders increases including degenerative diseases that occur naturally with age. Accordingly, the need for rehabilitation aids for them is also increasing.

In the case of Korea, according to statistics from the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), patent applications for rehabilitation aids for the last five years (2014-2018) have increased by 69% over the past five years (2009-2013), and the number of patent filings for rehabilitation aids for the elderly is 151 from 64 cases, it has more than doubled, accounting for 22% of the total period in the last five years. Looking at patent applications by technology field, 51% of applications related to muscle strength, 32% of applications related to nerve function such as balance, and 11% of applications related to skeletal relaxation.

In this post, we’re going to introduce the patented technologies on rehabilitation aids for the elderly.

Rehabilitation aids and its patents

⚫ A stroke

▲ wipsglobal.com
KR 10-1916414
"Hemiparesis rehabilitation training system and method for driving the same"

Stroke is a brain disease in which blood vessels in the brain are blocked or ruptured, causing bleeding. Face or body parts may be paralyzed, and speech problems may arise. The patent of the above picture is a technology that helps for those situation. This is a device that enables rehabilitation by symmetrical movement of the paralyzed side by measuring the position of the glove with a 3D sensor when the patient wears a glove on the non-paralyzed side and moves the joint when the body is partially paralyzed. It is a useful patented technology that helps rehabilitation through symmetrical exercises.

⚫ Parkinson's disease

▲ wipsglobal.com
KR 10-1800557
"A Walking Auxiliary Equipment for Parkinson's disease patient"

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system in which the limbs and the body tremble and stiff. The head is pushed forward, the torso and knees are bent, and walking with a small stride. The above patent is a driving aid for Parkinson's disease patients, and when a Parkinson's disease patient with reduced walking ability wears a head-mounted walking aid, the surrounding environment including obstacles is provided in front of their eyes in augmented reality. The next foot position for walking is visually guided through a laser.

⚫ Gait rehabilitation training

▲ wipsglobal.com
KR 10-2014162
"Monitoring system of walking balance for lower limb rehabilitation"

The above patent is a technology related to a gait balance monitoring system that can be usefully used in rehabilitation treatment. It is a walking balance monitoring device that allows a user wearing a gait assisting means to measure whether the balance is maintained while walking on a treadmill and transmit it to a display device to recognize whether the walking balance is maintained or deviated in real time. The rehabilitation patient can directly monitor whether the gait balance is maintained in real time and correct the posture by themselves, thereby increasing the effectiveness of rehabilitation training. Physical therapists can also provide improved training programs because they can easily monitor and check the training results.

⚫ Dementia

▲ wipsglobal.com
KR 10-1956152
"Rehabilitation training system using pegboard"

Dementia is a disease in which intelligence, will, and memory are persistently and essentially lost due to damage to cerebral nerve cells. It is mainly seen in the elderly population. The above patented technology evaluates the time, accuracy, pattern memory, etc. by inserting a stick into a board in which a plurality of light sources, which are sequentially output. It is a rehabilitation training system that sets the training mode, outputs a light source of a specific color on the board, inserts a peg that matches the shape or size of the hole, detects it with a sensor module that detects it, and evaluates memory and cognitive abilities.

Hope that the era of rehabilitation aids specialized for the elderly population will be active, and many useful patents will be developed to reduce physical pain caused by diseases, so that the age of life can be more healthy and happy.

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(source)

This content is an excerpt from the Korean articles by reporter Soo-jin Choi, Reporter of Intellectual Property Policy of the Korea Intellectual Property Office.

https://blog.naver.com/PostView.nhn?blogId=kipoworld2&logNo=222155367417&parentCategoryNo=&categoryNo=33&viewDate=&isShowPopularPosts=false&from=postList

 

How to get economic benefits from IP assets

 

IP assets are intangible assets that are difficult to obtain financially unless they are made in a form. In order to obtain a profit, it is necessary to strategically prepare specific and practical methods according to the situation of the company holding IP assets.

1. Product improvement

IP assets are the result of investment on innovation and lead to improved performance of new or existing products. One of the main commercial advantages of IP, in particular, is that competitors can produce better products through the right that their IP assets cannot be violated. Improving the quality of a product can help you sell a larger volume of product, achieve more profits, and retain customer interest over time. Therefore, IP assets must be dealt with in a plan with the product strategy in the enterprise.

▲ pixabay.com

2. License

The most active way to use IP assets is the license. Licensing is the sharing of IP by a legally binding contract specifying certain terms with another company in exchange for paying royalties. This approach is attractive to companies which buy IP assets. This is because the product can be improved with new features and technologies. Because licenses can also access new markets, sellers also are attracted this way. For example, you cannot reach other markets without distribution channels or manufacturing capabilities, but you can experience new markets indirectly through licensing. Some companies make money by using only licenses professionally. These businesses are effectively engaged in research and product development, and when the technology is sufficiently developed, it is handed over to other companies with expertise in marketing and distribution.

Not only private companies but also universities and research institutes are actively using IP licenses. According to a study by the University Technology Managers Association, in 2004, IP license revenues from universities and research institutes in Canada and the United States amounted to $1.36 billion. Columbia University in New York founded the Columbia Innovation Enterprise (CIE), which manages the university's IP assets. Since its establishment in 1982, CIE has developed more than 400 patents and signed more than 1000 license agreements from until 2004, with annual sales of $130 million in 2004 alone.

IP Industry also creates partnerships that share IP assets with each other's IP asset licenses. Through the IP asset partnership, members can conduct joint research projects on related technologies without fear of infringement. In addition, in order to increase the strength of the partnership, they create and promote “standard” or “platform” of IP assets. A good example of a platform strategy is Microsoft Windows. Several companies develop and sell products that work on Windows, and the IP called Windows occupies a key position in the platform.

3. Joint venture and strategic alliance

Companies often choose business-to-business alliances to solve difficult issues that are unable to be achieved on their own. The legal form varies, but cross-licensing is one of the methods. Cross-licensing allows parties to collaborate without risks of financial transactions or litigation. Thus, the two companies share intellectual property in order to make or manufacture better products. IP licenses often also affect to agreements of development collaboration in which the parties share responsibility and IP ownership with respect to the research and development of an agreed technology or product. You may also receive licenses for copyrighted manufacturing documents, specifications and instructions, industrial designs and trade secrets.

Strategic alliances are networks of companies or research centers that agree to share and use resources. Members of the association develop products or proceed marketing together by sharing the association's advertising costs or IP assets. As the association's position rises, it can be used to certify the quality of its members.

▲ pixabay.com

4. IP evaluation and financing

The IP evaluation specifically evaluates the monetary value of an IP asset or portfolio. Being evaluated for IP is essential for business planning and joint ventures, and is used everywhere related to monetary transactions such as licensing, mergers and acquisitions, investments, joint ventures and loans.

Loan transactions or investments in IP assets were not active in the past, but as the importance of IP increases, they are getting more and more attention. In recent years, the financial industry considers the number and quality of IP assets as well as the financial assets the company has to make the decision for investment. The company's IP asset portfolio, which has been carried out step by step from the plan, is convincing to investors because it demonstrates the potential revenue generated by IP, technological innovation, and willingness to improve products. Therefore, in the due diligence, which investigates and monitors the company's assets when investment or M&A is in progress, it is thoroughly checked whether IP assets have been progressed from the planning stage, are properly used according to the plan, and are properly managed.

▲ pixabay.com

5. Use as a marketing tool

IP is a key marketing tool. A strong trademark or brand can be the cornerstone of a company's marketing strategy. It can also be used as a “national brand,” a method of projecting images for the country and promoting its products.

National (geographic) marketing campaigns are one of the ways to effectively use IP. A product can be evaluated positively by a national image, which can stimulate demand by conveying confidence in the product to potential buyers. An example of an effective use of geographic indications is tequila, a Mexican drink protected by geographic indications since 1977. Mexico has had tremendous marketing effects in the liquor industry by protecting tequila's trademark, which has generated tremendous profits.

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This is a partial excerpt from 

'IP Asset Development and Management: A Key Strategy for Economic Growth (WIPO, 2004)'

[International IP Briefing] US, Patent E2E

 

US

On December 17, 2020, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced that USPTO introduced a new search tool, 'Patent E2E (End-to-End)' search tool for prior art search by US patent examiners.

pixabay.com

Patent examination is complex in nature, but a largely predictable and aims to provide reliable intellectual property right, and prior art search is used as the basis for this task.

Therefore, strengthening the ability of patent examiners to find the best prior arts as soon as possible is to ensure both quality and timeliness, the goal of the USPTO.

The USPTO is improving relevant processes and adding search tools to enhance the ability of examiners to find prior art efficiently, while leveraging the capabilities of highly skilled staff and promoting the acquisition of relevant knowledge.

'Patent E2E', newly introduced by USTPO, is a modern web-based platform that focuses on performance and adaptability, allowing flexible search of images and texts as well as access to a vast amount of foreign documents.

In addition, by using artificial intelligence (AI), a promising new search feature has been developed as an automatic classification tool that classifies patent documents using a joint patent classification system through the use of related prior art search and machine learning such as an AI-based prototype search system. It is said that he will support the examiner.

Patent E2E will be open to the public from 2021.

Source from;

https://www.kiip.re.kr/board/trend/view.do?bd_gb=trend&bd_cd=1&bd_item=0&po_item_gb=&po_no=20120