- Discussion on IP rights strategy for countermeasures against digital conversion and for New Deal policy support

? Commissioner KIM Yong Rae of the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) held an online video conference with overseas patent officers* on November 18 (Wed.) at 2 pm to seek countermeasures against innovative changes involving the rapidly changing commercial environment and digital conversion.
* Overseas patent officers take charge of business related to IP rights at diplomatic offices and conduct tasks such as resolving the difficulties of Korean companies that have advanced locally, negotiate with local governments, grasp market trends, etc.
** Currently, there are six overseas patent officers working at six diplomatic offices in five countries including the United States, China, Japan, European Union (EU), and Geneva.


? During the meeting, cooperation with major countries and countermeasures in accordance with changes in the global commercial environment, such as IP rights disputes between the U.S. and China and signing the RCEP, were examined, and protective measures for the IP rights of Korean companies that have advanced internationally were extensively discussed.

? The KIPO is in the process of preparing IP rights strategies and tasks to support Korean digital New Deal policy, the object of which is to respond to conversion to a digital economy, and the online conference was held as part of that process.

?In addition, the conference was held to help Korean companies that have advanced internationally so that they have a better understanding of the market in such a rapidly changing environment and to seek effective advancement strategies.

? At the meeting on November 18, which the directors and division heads of KIPO and all overseas patent officers attended, presentations and discussion were made on ? technology and trade disputes between the U.S. and China, current status and reaction strategy on the RCEP, and ? policy trends and implications of digital conversion in major countries.

? With this, overseas patent offices were able to better understand the digital-related policies of major developed countries other than the country of residence and the IP strategies KIPO is planning in Korea.

? Commissioner Kim expressed appreciation for the hard work of overseas patent officers working internationally in the COVID-19 situation, and asked them to make efforts to strengthen communication with local IP rights policy authorities and stakeholders and to actively deliver the messages of Korean companies to local governments.

? KIPO plans to hold a separate online video conference on November 19 for the Korea Patent Attorney Association (KPAA), Korea Intellectual Property Association (KINPA), interested companies, and the general public.

? A discussion session will be held after presentations by six overseas patent officers, during which opinions on the actions of export companies and support strategies will be collected.

? Commissioner Kim closed the conference by saying that "overseas patent officers should have regular meetings with stakeholders, including domestic industries and academics, so that IP rights policies that are necessary on site can be promoted with speed.