Patents
Korean patent protection, drafted and prosecuted before MOIP with the precision your invention deserves.
We prepare, file and prosecute patent applications before the Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP) on behalf of foreign companies and their local counsel abroad. Our attorneys draft to the standards Korean examiners expect, so your claims read clearly in Korean and hold their scope through examination.
Whether you are entering Korea through a Paris Convention filing, a PCT national phase, or a fresh domestic application, we align the specification, claims and prosecution strategy with your global portfolio. You receive senior attention on every matter, not a handoff to junior staff.
Drafting, filing and prosecution of Korean and PCT national-phase patents — claims written by attorneys who understand the technology.
Specification & claim drafting
We author or adapt the specification and claim set for Korean practice, ensuring adequate support, clarity and claim scope that survives examination.
Filing before MOIP
We handle new domestic filings, Paris Convention applications claiming priority, and PCT national phase entry, with accurate Korean translation review.
Examination & office-action response
We analyze examiner objections, develop amendment and argument strategy, and respond to office actions to secure the broadest defensible claims.
Grant, registration & post-grant
We manage the grant and registration formalities, annuity deadlines, and post-grant matters including corrections, divisionals and portfolio upkeep.
Four steps, one point of contact.
Inquiry & assessment
You share the invention and goals, and we scope the work, timing and Korea-specific considerations.
Drafting & strategy
We prepare or adapt the specification and claims and agree the filing and prosecution strategy with you.
Filing & prosecution
We file with MOIP and manage examination, responding to office actions until the application is in condition for grant.
Registration & management
We complete registration and maintain the patent, tracking annuities and post-grant deadlines on your behalf.
Request for examination
A patent application is not examined automatically; a request for examination must be filed within 3 years of the filing date.
Convention priority
Under the Paris Convention, a Korean application may claim priority from a first foreign filing made within the preceding 12 months.
Accelerated examination
MOIP offers accelerated examination in eligible cases, which can substantially shorten the time to a first examination result.
Patent term
A Korean patent term runs 20 years from the filing date, subject to payment of annual maintenance fees.
Can I enter Korea through the PCT?
Yes. We handle PCT national phase entry into Korea, including translation review and any required amendments on entry.
Do you draft in Korean or work from our English text?
Both. We can draft originally for Korea or adapt your existing specification, and we review the Korean translation to preserve claim scope.
How long does prosecution take?
Timing depends on the technology and examiner workload; standard examination typically takes a couple of years, and accelerated examination can shorten this considerably.
What deadlines should I watch after filing?
The key early deadline is the 3-year request for examination; after grant, annual maintenance fees must be paid to keep the patent in force.
Not sure which route fits? Ask us.
Describe your matter and we’ll map the MOIP route, timeline and cost — with a fixed quote.