‘K-Quarantine Model’ Shared with Overseas Patent Offices… Korea Holds Remote Meeting with 16 Patent Office Heads

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] A forum was held to share the Korean-style quarantine model (hereinafter K-quarantine model) in response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) with major patent offices around the world.

According to the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) on the 21st, the day before, Commissioner Park Won-joo held a remote meeting attended by heads of patent offices from 16 countries including the United States, China, Europe, Japan, and India, as well as Francis Gurry, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

At the remote meeting, Commissioner Park introduced the process and know-how Korea has used to respond to COVID-19 through a keynote speech.

He also stated that regarding international patent applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) filed through the Korean Intellectual Property Office, if applicants are unable to pay fees within the prescribed period due to COVID-19, surcharges will be waived to minimize the applicants’ patent fee burden and actively support the creation and utilization of intellectual property rights.

Subsequently, the heads of patent offices from various countries and Director General Francis Gurry discussed cooperation between WIPO and member countries to minimize the burden on international intellectual property applicants for PCT (patents), Hague (designs), and Madrid (trademarks), as well as effective provision methods for COVID-19 related patent information during the remote meeting.

Commissioner Park said, “The world is paying attention to Korea’s COVID-19 response cases, and many countries are requesting to share know-how such as diagnostic kits and K-walkthrough.” He added, “The Korean Intellectual Property Office will strive to make Korea’s COVID-19 response model a global exemplary case in the field of intellectual property rights.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.