119. Patent E-filing
Today, we will learn about “the 4th industry and patent overview”. Among them, today we will discuss “electronic filing of patents”.
1. Electronic filing for domestic patents
There are two ways to apply for a patent: first, using a patent attorney, and second, self filing. The method of using a patent attorney has the advantage that it is easy to solve problems after filing a patent application, but the disadvantage is that economic costs such as start-up fee, application fee, and success case fee are involved (about 3 million won per domestic patent).
You can apply for a patent directly by using the Korean Intellectual Property Office software. In this case, individuals or corporations wishing to apply for a patent must be given a patent customer number in advance, and the method is as follows.
1) Go to www.patent.go.kr
2) Apply for a patent customer number
3) Choose one of 6 types (individual, corporation, etc.)
4) Submit the relevant documents
5) Download and fill out the form, scan and upload
At this stage, it would be good to get a certificate and link it with the patent customer number. The certificate is divided into two types: a domestic certificate and a PCT certificate. For a domestic certificate, you can use a certificate that can be issued by various domestic institutions such as a bank certificate. After completing and submitting the form by applying for certificate registration, the application is completed and a certificate ID is issued. You can then download the certificate.
The next step in filing a patent application by yourself is downloading and installing the electronic application software. The outline of the electronic application process is as follows.
1) Fill out abstract and specification through electronic document maker
2) Fill out necessary documents and forms of application
3) Form maker and attached document input machine are required to zip and upload attached documents
4) Review submission results
5) Pay fee
*Applicant and inventor may be different in Korea, but they must be the same in the United States.
2. PCT Electronic Application
One can download and file a PCT application through the PCT electronic application software (PCT-SAFE) developed and distributed by WIPO (For reference, filing a PCT application through a patent attorney costs approximately 7 million won to 10 million won). After downloading PCT-SAFE, set Korean as the language. In the case of PCT electronic applications, there is a fully electronic mode that is 100% electronic, and there are cases where only the preparation is done in PCT-SAFE and then sent by mail, but the latter is not often used. After opening PCT-SAFE, select a new form and fill out the general information. Then, fill out the application form through the file manager, fill out the bibliography, save it in the ready-to-sign state, and then submit the application.
Today, we looked at “Electronic Application 1 of Patents” among the 4th industry and patent overview. Next time, we will study “Electronic Application of Patent 2”.
*I am a student learning IP, not an IP expert. Translation is also a translator and my short English skills. I hope it will be helpful to those who do not have the relevant knowledge or those who want to learn about IP.
*The above is what I learned from Professor Oh's lecture on the 4th industrial revolution and patents, which can be viewed through K-mooc. Here is the link to the lecture (you may not be able to view it without logging in).
kmooc.kr/courses/course-v1:CAUk+CAU02K+2021_1/course