Korean Patents Granted Without Examination in Brunei Under the 'Patent Recognition System' Implementation

Commissioner Kim Yong-rae of the Korean Intellectual Property Office is holding a video conference with the Brunei Intellectual Property Office and signing a memorandum of understanding to implement the 'Patent Recognition System.' Photo by the Korean Intellectual Property Office

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] A pathway has opened for patents registered in Korea to be registered locally in Brunei without separate examination.

The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) announced on the 5th that it recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Brunei Intellectual Property Office to implement the Patent Recognition Program.

According to KIPO, patent rights generally take effect only in the country where they were originally registered, and each country independently examines and decides on patent registration according to its own patent laws.

However, in countries where the Patent Recognition Program is applied, patent registration rights are recognized as valid in other countries without undergoing examination by the counterpart country.

For example, patents registered in Korea can now be registered locally in Brunei within three months without examination by the Brunei Intellectual Property Office, following the signing of the MOU with Brunei's patent office.

KIPO also emphasizes the significance of the Patent Recognition Program agreement with Brunei as a realization of the two countries' leaders' commitment to strengthening cooperation in the field of intellectual property.

Previously, in March last year, President Moon Jae-in made a state visit to Brunei and held talks with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, announcing a joint statement promoting cooperation in intellectual property between the two countries.

Additionally, in November last year, at the Korea-ASEAN Special Summit, President Moon issued a joint chair statement with ASEAN leaders, including Brunei, emphasizing the strengthening of patent examination cooperation between Korea and ASEAN.

Following this, KIPO engaged in practical consultations with the Brunei Intellectual Property Office for about one and a half years, culminating in the signing of the Patent Recognition Program MOU.

KIPO expects that the implementation of the Patent Recognition Program with Brunei will provide a foundation for Korean companies to quickly register patents in Brunei and establish a stable local presence. The Brunei government also anticipates that attracting Korean companies will offer opportunities to diversify its industries.

Brunei is the third country to implement the Patent Recognition Program with Korea. KIPO signed MOUs for the program with Cambodia in November last year and Laos in July this year.

Kim Yong-rae, Commissioner of KIPO, stated, “Automatic recognition of Korean patents in other countries without separate examination is impossible without trust in the quality of Korea’s patent examination.” He added, “KIPO will continue to enhance the quality of domestic patent examinations and expand international cooperation countries so that Korean patents can be recognized in more countries.”

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