Gangtaegong Drives Patent Application for Fishing Gear

Fishing Equipment Patent Application Trends from 2011 to 2020. Provided by the Korean Intellectual Property Office

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] As the number of fishing enthusiasts increases, patent applications for fishing-related products are also on the rise. It is analyzed that there is an increasing trend of ideas gained from actual fishing being filed as patents.

According to the Korean Intellectual Property Office and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (2nd Basic Plan for Fishing Promotion) on the 12th, the domestic fishing population is expected to steadily increase from 6.52 million in 2010 to 9.49 million this year, and 10 million in 2024.

The increase in the fishing population is attributed to the popularity of fishing-related entertainment programs, increased leisure time, and the rise of fishing as a non-face-to-face sport amid the spread of COVID-19.

Notably, as the number of fishing enthusiasts grows, patent applications related to fishing are also increasing.

In fact, patent applications related to fishing gear surged from about 300 cases between 2011 and 2017 to 303 cases in 2018, 332 cases in 2019, and 382 cases in 2020.

From 2011 to 2020, the number of patent applications by technology field showed that tackle equipment for fishing accounted for the largest share with 1,235 cases (41.8%), followed by fishing reels with 531 cases (18.0%), accessories with 462 cases (15.7%), rod rests (13.9%), and fishing rods (7.7%).

In particular, patent applications in the fishing sinker and connector fields increased from 14 and 18 cases respectively in 2018 to 36 cases (157%↑) and 39 cases (116.7%↑) in 2020. This is interpreted as an increase in patent applications for fishing products incorporating eco-friendly materials, anti-tangling and anti-snagging features, and location tracking technologies to address recent environmental pollution issues caused by fishing.

On the other hand, patent applications related to fishing floats decreased from 50 cases to 27 cases (46.0%↓) during the same period, showing a contrasting trend. The decrease in fishing float applications is largely attributed to the growing popularity of lure fishing, which is more active, replacing the traditional float fishing method that stayed in one spot, according to the Korean Intellectual Property Office.

Trends in Domestic Patent Applications by Technical Field of Fishing Equipment. Provided by the Korean Intellectual Property Office

Additionally, patent applications for automatic and intelligent fishing products such as automatic hook setting and shaking, remote control, and smartphone-linked bite detection have recently become a notable feature. From 2011 to 2020, patent applications in the automatic and intelligent fishing product field totaled 102 cases.

Behind the increase in patent applications for fishing products, there is also a growing trend of fishing enthusiasts filing patents based on ideas gained in the field. For example, from 2011 to 2020, individuals accounted for 67.8% of all fishing product patent applications, exceeding half of the total.

Following individuals, companies accounted for 29.9% (domestic companies 13.0%, foreign companies 16.9%), and universities and research institutes 1.8%, in terms of the share of fishing product patent applications.

Lee Yoon-ah, an examiner at the Food and Biological Resources Examination Division of the Korean Intellectual Property Office, said, “Patent applications for fishing products by individuals increased by 81.9%, from 155 cases in 2017 to 282 cases in 2020, driving the overall rise in patent applications.” She added, “In line with the increase in the fishing population, it is necessary to enhance the competitiveness of the domestic fishing product industry by promoting technology transfer and commercialization in related product fields.”

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