[International IP Briefing] US, WIPO

 

 

US

U.S. X Corp. Settles Trademark Lawsuit Over the Letter ‘X’

 On September 15, 2025, Reuters reported that U.S.-based X Corp., the parent company of the former Twitter, reached a settlement in a trademark infringement lawsuit with X Social Media, a Florida-based legal marketing firm.

In October 2022, U.S. entrepreneur Elon Musk acquired the social media platform Twitter and rebranded it as “X” in July 2023.

On July 24, 2023, Reuters reported that several companies, including Meta and Microsoft, already held intellectual property rights to the letter “X,” and that the widespread use of “X” as a trademark could raise multiple legal issues under trademark law.

(History)

 In October 2023, X Social Media filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against X Corp. in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The company claimed that Twitter’s rebranding to “X” created consumer confusion with its own “X” trademark, resulting in revenue losses. It sought both an injunction to stop the use of the “X” name and monetary damages.

X Social Media, which has operated as a mass-tort client recruitment advertising agency since 2016, had been using “X” as a trademark and had previously run ads on Facebook to attract potential clients. X Corp. countered that the letter “X” had long been used by many companies and therefore did not constitute trademark infringement.

In July 2024, the Florida federal court sided with X Social Media’s claim that its “X” trademark had attained “incontestable” status, meeting statutory requirements and therefore shielding the registration itself from further challenge. The court allowed the infringement claim to proceed.

(Settlement)

On September 15, 2025, X Corp. and X Social Media jointly submitted a settlement agreement to the Florida federal court, requesting dismissal of the case with prejudice. Neither party disclosed the specific terms of the settlement.

(Related Development)

On February 20, 2025, X Corp. also resolved a similar “X” trademark lawsuit brought by the U.S. advertising company Multiply through settlement.

 

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WIPO

WIPO Releases 2025 Ranking of the World’s Top 100 Innovation Clusters

On September 1, 2025, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) announced the Top 100 Innovation Clusters Worldwide 2025, ahead of the release of the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025.

(Overview)

An innovation cluster refers to a city or region that drives innovation, serving as a key engine of a nation’s innovation ecosystem.

(Highlights)

The 2025 ranking of the Top 100 Innovation Clusters was based on analysis of:

1.      Patent filing activity under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT),

2.      Scientific publication activity, and

3.      Venture capital (VC) activity, newly introduced in 2025.

This methodology identifies geographic areas with the highest density of inventors, scientific authors, and venture capitalists worldwide.

gettyimagesbank.com

Top 5 Innovation Clusters

Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Guangzhou (China/Hong Kong) ranked first, Tokyo–Yokohama (Japan) ranked second, San Jose–San Francisco (United States) ranked 3^rd, Beijing (China) ranked 4^th, and Seoul (Republic of Korea) ranked 5^th. Combined, Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Guangzhou and Tokyo–Yokohama account for about 1/5 of all PCT filings worldwide.

Top 5 for Intensive Innovation Activity

When measured relative to population density, the clusters with the most intensive innovation activity are:

Among the Top 100 innovation clusters, the clusters showing the most intensive innovation activity relative to population density were San Jose–San Francisco (United States) in 1^st place, Cambridge (United Kingdom) in 2^nd, Boston–Cambridge (United States) in 3^rd, Ningde (China) in 4^th, and Oxford (United Kingdom) in 5^th.

Top 5 Countries

The countries with the largest number of innovation clusters in the Top 100 are:

The countries with the largest number of innovation clusters in the Top 100 were China with 24 clusters in 1^st place, the United States with 22 clusters in 2^nd, Germany with 7 clusters in 3^rd, India with 4 clusters in 4^th, and the United Kingdom with 4 clusters in 5^th, with China ranking first for the second consecutive year.

<Top 10 Innovation Clusters, 2025>

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Patent Review, Faster & Smarter - Meet the Highlighter

When reviewing countless patent documents, the biggest challenge is grasping the essence quickly. The Highlighter feature brings important keywords to the forefront, allowing you to instantly locate the information you need. Even in complex technical documents, you can zero in on the essentials, dramatically improving review efficiency.

Why the Highlighter Feature is Essential in Patent Review

Quickly Identify the Core in Massive Documents

Patent documents can stretch over dozens or even hundreds of pages, often filled with highly technical language. The Highlighter feature makes critical keywords stand out, so you don’t need to read every line to grasp the main ideas. This leads directly to shorter review times and greater productivity.

Improve Review Accuracy & Avoid Missing Key Details

The greatest risk in patent review is overlooking important terms or claims. By consistently highlighting designated keywords throughout the document, the Highlighter helps eliminate blind spots. Grouping similar keywords under the same color also makes it easy to recognize conceptually related ideas at a glance.

Flexibility for Different Use Cases

Whether conducting prior art searches, competitor analysis, patent mapping, or licensing review, the focus keywords vary by task. The Highlighter adapts seamlessly with options like repositioning the input panel, toggling highlight colors ON/OFF, and syncing across different viewers and pages. This ensures you can customize the tool to your exact workflow, focusing only on the parts that matter most.

Tangible Efficiency Gains in Practice

The benefit goes far beyond faster reading. Because key points are already marked, report writing and team collaboration become much smoother, with less rework and fewer communication gaps. Ultimately, the Highlighter translates into time and cost savings, along with higher-quality, more reliable deliverables.

Customized Highlighting

With the WIPS Global’s Highlighter, you can group up to 10 keywords and highlight them in the same color, making it easy to distinguish terms that share similar meanings or purposes. Beyond simple word highlighting, this feature creates a tailored analysis environment. With options such as moving the input box, toggling highlight colors ON/OFF, and automatic syncing across multiple viewers, the Highlighter adapts to the way you work.

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Up to 50 highlighter colors can be designated.

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You can switch between horizontal and vertical modes, and freely adjust the window size.

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You can also move the highlighter to any desired location for convenient document review.

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You can enter up to 10 keywords in a single field and highlight them in the same color.

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Core keywords by technology can be saved as a set, allowing you to easily load them whenever needed.

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The highlighter feature is automatically linked with various features such as Detailed View, Easy Viewer, and My Folder, allowing you to review saved keyword sets across all supported features.

<Features where the Highlighter is applied>

A New Standard for Patent Review

So far, we’ve looked into the upgraded ‘Highlighter’ of the WIPS Global. The Highlighter isn’t just an accessory — it’s a transformative feature that redefines the patent review process. By simplifying complex data, saving time, and enabling you to focus only on what truly matters, it turns document review from a tedious task into the starting point for clear, actionable insights.

Hidden Patent Technologies in OTT Streaming

 

 Most people today subscribe to at least one OTT service. In fact, while TV viewing time continues to decline, the amount of time spent watching OTT services has steadily increased, reflecting a significant change in content consumption. According to one survey, 8 out of 10 people use OTT services, which shows that streaming has become a natural part of our daily lives.

gettyimagesbank.com

 Recently, many movies and series are released first—or even exclusively—on OTT platforms rather than on TV or in theaters. The main reasons OTT platforms have become the center of interaction between content consumers and providers include the ability to access high-quality content anywhere and the convenience of personalized recommendations tailored to individual preferences.

 But did you know that these convenient OTT services are actually “bundles of patents,” built upon countless patented technologies? Netflix, one of the most iconic OTT brands, is known as a “patent giant,” having filed around 2,000 patents worldwide. Today, let’s look at the patents that power OTT streaming and uncover the hidden technologies behind it.

“This is how everyone makes trailers these days.”

 Many OTT platforms now actively use trailers made from parts of the actual show when launching new content. In the past, making a trailer required people to manually find and edit specific scenes from the main program, which was a highly burdensome and inefficient process.

Netflix 'Trigger' official trailer
(source: Netflix official YouTube)

 Given the nature of OTT platforms, which must supply dozens or even hundreds of new titles each year, Netflix needed to streamline this process. They solved the problem by using machine learning algorithms and automation.

 They created a formula for trailer production, trained it through machine learning, and developed a system that automatically selects the most effective scenes from uploaded content to generate a trailer.

wipsglobal.com> Drawing editor
US12374372, 'Automatic trailer detection in multimedia content'

 The algorithm works by extracting and analyzing video shots, scoring their relative similarity, and then stitching the key shots into a trailer. By having machines do the work, Netflix drastically reduced the time and effort required, allowing resources to be used far more efficiently.

 In an era where OTT platforms churn out content at breakneck speed, automated trailer generation has become a powerful tool—both for meeting the constant demand for new content and for gaining a competitive edge.

“We read your mind with big data from your watch history.”

 At one point, the comment “YouTube Algorithm brought me here” became a viral meme. It humorously implied, “I don’t know why this video was recommended, but it’s fun, so okay.”

 

YouTube recommendation algorithm meme
(source: Reddit-r/PewdiepieSubmissions)

 YouTube gained a reputation for recommending strange but entertaining videos, and people turned its algorithm into a running joke. But behind these “mysterious recommendations” is Google’s carefully engineered system that identifies hidden preferences even users themselves didn’t realize they had.

 The key lies in a 2013 Google patent: “Video Recommendation Based on Co-Viewing Statistics”—a core technology behind today’s YouTube algorithm.

wipsglobal.com > AI summary
US 8868481, 'Video recommendation based on video co-occurrence statistics'

 The system analyzes the relationship between videos being watched and those on the recommendation list, while factoring in user behavior (such as which videos were clicked and how long they were watched) to create optimized recommendations.

wipsglobal.com
US 8868481, 'Video recommendation based on video co-occurrence statistics'

 So, even the strangest recommendations are not random—they are based on subtle connections to previously watched content or inferred preferences from viewing patterns with the assumption that I might like them. What once felt like bizarre coincidences turn out to be deliberate results of YouTube’s powerful data analysis.

“Hello, I’m Cinema-Grade Audio. I saved OTT!”

Dolby Laboratories, well-known for its video and audio codecs, has long set industry standards—so much so that its formats are treated like a “Bible” in the film industry.

Dolby Atmos logo
(source: Dolby)

 Among its flagship technologies is Dolby Atmos, an object-based surround sound system designed to deliver immersive audio. It enhances traditional surround sound by linking on-screen objects to exact sound positions in theaters.

Example of Dolby Atmos system application
(source: Dolby Professional)

 However, Atmos originally required installing numerous speakers around the entire 360° environment, with acoustic reflections taken into account—making it practical only for select large cinemas. Implementing it on PCs, smartphones, or home theaters seemed virtually impossible.

wipsglobal.com
EP 3434023, 'Near-Field rendering of immersive audio content in portable computers and devices'

 However, Dolby managed to virtualize this technology so that the Dolby Atmos experience could be reproduced even on everyday electronic devices with ordinary stereo speakers. As a result, Atmos technology has become widely adopted, and much of this success can be attributed to a patent Dolby filed in 2016.

 That patent is titled “Near-Field rendering of immersive audio content in portable computers and devices” (commonly referred to as Near-Field). This technology makes it possible to virtually reproduce Dolby Atmos through stereo speakers even without a full surround sound setup. In other words, by adjusting sound frequencies and levels, it creates a three-dimensional “virtual surround” effect using just stereo speakers.

 Thanks to this technology, users can now enjoy immersive sound even on smartphones and PCs, and today’s leading OTT platforms have also reaped its benefits. In order to enhance the quality of their content offerings, OTT services have actively adopted Dolby Atmos at the platform level. As a result, this innovation has dramatically reduced the gap in immersion between OTT and traditional media, ultimately becoming a groundbreaking technology that reshaped the entire market.

How far will OTT evolve as integrated content platforms?

2025 International Streaming Festival Poster
(source: Official Festival website)

 We’ve explored some of the key patented technologies behind OTT streaming. OTT services are rapidly expanding beyond movies and dramas into sports, e-sports, and more, dramatically reshaping how we consume content. With the upcoming International Streaming Festival drawing major public interest, OTT’s value will only continue to rise. No longer just video platforms, OTT services are becoming comprehensive content hubs. It will be exciting to see what new technologies they integrate next in their ongoing transformation.

“One Step Further Into the Unknown” – Lunar Exploration and Patents

 

 On July 20, 1969, with the successful landing of Apollo 11, humanity’s long-cherished dream of “traveling to the Moon” finally became reality. Thanks to the Apollo 11 astronauts, humankind became the first and only living beings from Earth to set foot on another celestial body. To honor this achievement, in 2021 the United Nations designated July 20 as International Moon Day at its General Assembly.

 Since humans first set foot on the Moon, the aerospace field has advanced tremendously. Today, with the ongoing Artemis Program—aimed at enabling crewed lunar exploration and establishing the Moon as a staging point for Mars missions—interest in the Moon and outer space has reached new heights. In this issue, we explore key patented technologies related to lunar exploration in celebration of International Moon Day.

Can orbiting the Moon be patented too? – NASA’s spacecraft trajectory patent

wipsglobal.com
US10696423, 'Method for transferring a spacecraft from geosynchronous transfer orbit to lunar orbit'

wipsglobal.com> Smartcloud
US10696423, 'Method for transferring a spacecraft from geosynchronous transfer orbit to lunar orbit'

 Because Earth’s orbit and the Moon’s surface orbit face each other, transferring a spacecraft from Earth to lunar orbit required enormous fuel and presented great difficulty. However, according to this NASA patent, calculating the optimal flight trajectory and velocity makes it possible to move a spacecraft into lunar orbit with minimal fuel. This technology has drawn increased attention since the announcement of the Lunar Gateway project, which aims to construct a space station in lunar orbit as a hub for crewed Mars exploration. By leveraging this patented method, more economical space exploration could become possible.

Korea’s lunar lander test system

 Extensive testing is required to verify whether a lunar lander can function properly, especially to determine if it can operate correctly under the Moon’s surface conditions and gravity. For this, facilities and test systems that replicate lunar gravity and surface environments are essential.

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KR10-2794347, 'Lunar gravity simulation system for lander performance test'

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KR10-2794347, 'Lunar gravity simulation system for lander performance test'

 This patent, announced by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, describes a system that simulates lunar gravity and environmental conditions for testing lander performance. It allows flexible configuration of landing parameters such as length and height in various directions. Moreover, the movable frame that suspends the lander model can be freely adjusted, enabling the lander to move in different directions. This makes it possible to test performance under a wide variety of scenarios. The fact that Korea can both build and validate its own lunar landers with homegrown technology is a point of great pride.

Mobility of the future won’t be limited to Earth – Hyundai Motor’s lunar rover

 In recent years, many automakers have sought to transform into “mobility companies” by developing a wide range of mobility solutions beyond traditional cars. Hyundai has also made headlines by filing patents related to future mobility—specifically, a vehicle designed for use on the Moon, often referred to as a lunar rover.

Hyundai Motor Group's hybrid vehicle for lunar exploration
(source: Hyundai Motor Group)

 According to Hyundai’s patent, this lunar rover features four wheels, each connected to a leg that moves independently. With joints incorporated into each leg, the rover can fold its front legs and extend its rear legs to climb slopes more stably. In terrains too difficult for wheel-based movement, it can walk using its legs, allowing it to traverse a wide range of harsh environments.

wipsglobal.com
US2024-0351710, 'Hybrid vehicle for use in lunar exploration'

wipsglobal.com> Drawing editor
US2024-0351710, 'Hybrid vehicle for use in lunar exploration'

 When crossing short rough patches, the rover mimics reptilian locomotion with a low stance, while for long-distance movement it imitates mammalian gaits. In other words, it adopts motion inspired by animal walking patterns. Most notably, it incorporates deep reinforcement learning, enabling the rover to autonomously determine and apply the most suitable walking style, travel speed, and movement direction for a given situation. This distinguishes it from previous lunar rovers and represents a significant leap forward.

Will Artemis’ dream be realized?

Artemis Program logo
(source: NASA, https://www.nasa.gov/gallery/artemis/ )

 

 Since Apollo 17’s mission in 1972, humanity has not set foot on the Moon for over 50 years. Against this backdrop, the execution of the Artemis Project holds great significance—not only as a “return to the Moon,” but also as the first step toward leaving humankind’s footprints on Mars. With a renewed technological race underway and the Moon once again in the spotlight, the world eagerly watches to see whether humanity can achieve another successful lunar mission.

[International IP Briefing] US, KR

 

US

USPTO Announces Return to In-Person Hearings for all Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Hearings

 On July 23, 2025, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced that starting September 1, all Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) hearings will be held in person unless there is a showing of good cause.

(Overview) 

Under the America Invents Act (AIA), parties to a trial and appellants in a patent appeal may request an oral hearing to present their arguments before the PTAB.

The Oral Hearing Guide, published on August 31, 2023, added an all-virtual hearing option for trials, allowing participating parties to present their oral arguments remotely. Accordingly, parties can choose their method of attending a hearing from the following options: ① appearing at a designated hearing location, ② appearing in person at a USPTO office, ③ appearing via video conference, or ④ appearing by phone. In addition, for non-confidential hearings, the PTAB allows the public to observe the hearing proceedings, and they can choose between ① attending in person at a designated hearing location or ② watching remotely via video conference.

(Key Points) 

The key points of the announcement, effective September 1, 2025, are as follows:

·         In-person attendance requirement – All parties involved in a PTAB proceeding must attend the hearing in person unless there is a showing of good cause.

·         Good cause – Parties may be granted an exception to attend a hearing remotely if there is a showing of good cause, such as financial hardship, medical emergency, or other similar obstacles to in-person attendance.

·         Individualized remote attendance approval – The approval for one party to attend remotely does not automatically constitute good cause for other parties to also attend remotely.

·         Hearing locations – Hearings will be held at one of the USPTO's offices, and parties may request a specific USPTO office location.

·         Public proceedings – The public, who are not parties, may attend hearings remotely as before and must submit a request by email at least three business days before the scheduled hearing date to attend either remotely or in person.

 

Link to the original text of the guide: https://www.ptab.info/PDFS/230800-G-ROHG.pdf

USPTO Headquarters (Alexandria, VA), Southwest Regional Outreach Office (Dallas), Rocky Mountain Regional Outreach Office (Denver), Elijah J. MaCoy Midwest Regional Outreach Office (Detroit), Western Regional Outreach Office (San Jose, CA) (Source: USPTO)

(Sources: https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/news-updates/uspto-returning-person-ptab-hearings )

 

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KR

KIPO Shortens Opposition Period Following Trademark Publication

On July 22, 2025, the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) announced that a revised Trademark Act, which shortens the opposition period, has gone into effect.

(Key Details)

 KIPO stated that the revision is expected to speed up the process for applicants to obtain trademark rights by shortening the opposition period from two months to 30 days. KIPO also explained the trademark opposition system and the background for shortening the opposition period.

Overview of the Trademark Opposition System

▪The trademark registration process consists of: application, publication, and finally, a decision on registration after the opposition period.

·     ▪The trademark opposition system allows anyone to file an opposition within the specified period from the publication date of a trademark application that a trademark examiner found no grounds to refuse. This system enables public participation in the examination process.

Background for Shortening the Opposition Period

▪As of June 2025, it took approximately 12.8 months to begin the examination of a domestic trademark application and 10.5 months for an international one. There have been requests to shorten the opposition period to allow for faster acquisition of rights.

·     ▪Even though oppositions were filed for only about 1% of all published applications, the remaining 99% of trademark applications still had to wait for two months.

 Application and Expected Effects of Shortening the Opposition Period

▪The revised Trademark Act applies to trademark applications published on or after July 22, 2025. It is expected that the registration decision for the majority of published trademarks will be expedited.

▪Even with the shortened opposition period, information about a trademark application is disclosed upon filing. This means third parties can still submit opinions on the applied-for trademark at any time through the Information Submission System.

▪Additionally, the period for amending the grounds for opposition has been extended to 30 days. This means the time available for third parties to submit their opinions will effectively remain at its previous level.

▪KIPO emphasized that it will continue to operate the trademark examination system in a balanced manner, ensuring sufficient opportunities for public examination while also reducing the processing time for examinations. They also highlighted that information about the new system will be provided in the decision notice for publication.

(Source:  WWW.kipo.go.kr 2025.7.22)

 

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50 Jurisdictions! One Platform! Unlimited Possibilities!

 

 We’re thrilled to announce a significant leap forward in providing our clients with unparalleled global patent data coverage, keeping pace with the ever-evolving landscape of technological innovation.

 WIPS Global, which previously offered comprehensive patent search services with 16 countries' full-text data, will now expand its reach. Effective this September, we are adding full-text data from 34 additional jurisdictions, bringing our total full-text data coverage to an impressive 50 jurisdictions!

 Why Does 50-jurisdictions Full-Text Data Matter?

▪Gain a Competitive Edge: Quickly identify global technology trends and competitor patent activities to solidify your market position.

▪Minimize Risks: Proactively pinpoint and develop strategies to avoid potential patent infringement, preventing unnecessary disputes.

▪Accelerate Innovation: Access a vast repository of global patent data to spark new ideas and guide R&D, thereby accelerating innovative technological development.

▪Global Market Entry Strategy: Meticulously analyze patent landscapes in specific countries to gain essential insights for successful international market entry.

What Makes the 50-jurisdictions Full-Text Data Unique?

▪Unrivaled Coverage: We boast global-leading data coverage, encompassing patent data from major technological powerhouses as well as rapidly emerging economies.

▪Accurate and Reliable Data: We provide the most up-to-date patent information directly from the original sources in each country, ensuring accuracy and reliability.

▪Powerful Search and Analysis Features: When combined with WIPS Global's unique and powerful search and analysis capabilities, this extensive data provides even more profound insights.

What core tasks can be performed with expanded coverage?

▪In-depth competitor analysis and technology trend identification: Analyze which technology sectors your main competitors are investing in to predict their R&D direction and market strategy.

▪Building and managing a robust patent portfolio: Identify technological gaps in specific fields and proactively file patents to build a strong patent portfolio.

▪Discovering new business opportunities and developing market entry strategies: When considering entering a new country, you can analyze its patent system, key technology trends, and competitor patent status to formulate a successful market entry strategy.

Let's take a closer look at the new and innovative WIPS Global, with data from 50 countries.

< the New 34 jurisdictions full-text >

**The images below are screenshots taken from the WIPS Global test server. The new 34 jurisdictions will be available in early September.**

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 This expansion to 50-country full-text data coverage is more than just an enhancement to our solution; it means providing patent practitioners with a powerful tool that maximizes your work efficiency and ultimately contributes to your company's success.

 No longer worry about missing critical information due to limited data. Experience the panorama of global patent information with our solution and open new horizons in your patent work.