Expedited Patent Examination Period from 21 to 10 Months Under Plan

The Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) is looking to improve the patent examination turnaround period from the current 21 months to 10 months by the end of Year 2006.

Reflective of the above initiative, the KIPO is planning to hire 248 of new examination staff personnel including 8 patent judges, and to add new examination divisions covering environmental chemistry, electronic commerc...