[2020 National Audit] Korea Fisheries Resources Agency Wastes 800 Million Won on Patent Fees Despite Many Free Patents

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] The Korea Fisheries Resources Agency, which is implementing the artificial reef project, has been paying patent fees out of convention without using free patent technology, raising calls for system improvement.

According to data received by Choi In-ho, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, from the Korea Fisheries Resources Agency on the 22nd, the status of artificial reef construction contracts over the past two years (2019 to September 2020) shows a total of 118 cases worth 37.2 billion KRW.

Construction contracts that paid fees to artificial reef patent holders accounted for 113 cases (35.3 billion KRW), representing 96% of the total, while projects using patent technology available for free due to no patent holder amounted to 5 cases (1.9 billion KRW), about 4%. During the same period, the agency paid 760 million KRW in patent fees.

Artificial reefs are structures installed on the seabed by artificially attaching reefs to concrete or steel frame structures for the purpose of protecting and cultivating marine life.

As of October 2020, among 87 artificial reef patent technologies, 51 (59%) require payment of fees to patent holders, while 36 (41%) are free to use due to patent expiration.

Rep. Choi said, "The agency conventionally uses paid patent technology and pays fees without analyzing the effectiveness of free versus paid patents," adding, "System improvements are needed to reduce unnecessary patent fees."

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