Registration of industrial designs in South Korea – Every company that owns an industrial design and intends to expand its business in the market in South Korea should use the intellectual property system of South Korea. It is paramount for businesses to file an industrial design application in South Korea for industrial designs, even if the launch of the respective product on the market in South Korea has not yet commenced.
Requirements for industrial design registration application in South Korea
The official language when registering an industrial design at the South Korea Intellectual Property Office is Korean.
The following information and documents need to be provided in the application for registration of an industrial design in South Korea:
- name, address, and nationality of the applicant, business address;
- class number according to the Locarno Classification;
- filing date;
- representation of the design;
- title of the designs;
- representation of the object of the design;
- drawing of the designs.
If priority is requested, a copy of the priority document should be translated into Korean and submitted to the IP office within 3 months of the filing of the design application.
Examination of an industrial design application in South Korea
Validity period and renewal of industrial designs in South Korea
The renewal period for the novelty of an industrial design in South Korea is 12 months before the filing date for the priority date if the design was disclosed by the designer or on behalf of the designer.
Represented by an industrial design registration attorney
An international applicant for an industrial design registration in South Korea should perform an industrial design search in South Korea through a law firm, or an industrial design attorney.