Korea: Sharp increase in scope-of-right trials

According to a statistical evaluation by the Intellectual Property Tribunal (IPT), the number of trials to determine the scope of a patent right rose considerably from 364 in 2000 to 673 in 2009. In particular those cases initiated by the patent owner - to proof that a third person's action is infringing his/her patent right - attributed greatly to this increase. Moreover, the rate of trials which turned out successful for the patent owner rose from 17.6% in 2005 to 21.5% in 2009.

According to a spokesperson of the IPT, scope of right trials are treated preferentially at the IPT as these trials are regarded as a particular important tool to solve patent related disputes efficiently. 

For further information, please refer to KIPO news of 6 May 2011 (in Korean only).