S. Korea, Russia agree to fast-track patent review process

By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, June 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Russia have agreed to launch a
fast-track patent review process in November to speed up the process of securing
intellectual property rights protection for companies and individuals, officials
here said Tuesday.
The patent prosecution highway (PPH) agreement signed in Moscow earlier in the
day can greatly reduce the time for patent offices to process protection
requests, the Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) said.
"Patents are given by each country, which under ordinary conditions can take up
to 32 months to review," said an official. He said that if a PHH is set in place
and if authorities share information related to the granting of patents, the
entire process can be cut to under 12 months.
"This saves time for patent offices that in turn can look over more requests,
while at the same time permitting swifter protection for businesses and
individuals who have developed new technologies," the expert said.
Seoul first set up a PHH with Japan in 2007, followed by similar pacts with the
United States in the following year and Denmark in March. A deal with Britain
will go into effect in October, with talks underway with Canada and Germany for
similar tie-ups.
KIPO said that its commissioner, Koh Jung-sik, who signed the deal with his
counterpart Boris Simomov, also held talks with nine members of the Eurasian
Patent Office, which deals with intellectual property rights in the Ukraine,
Belarus, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, among other nations.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)