KIPO expands its shorter examination scheme into chips, batteries

KIPO CI

South Korea’s intellectual property agency said its priority examination areas will include performance testing and evaluation for chips, display materials, components, and equipment in addition to the existing manufacturing and design requirements.

The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) said patent applications associated with advanced technologies have been eligible for priority examination that comes with a shorter timeframe to approval since November 2022, as they are expected to have a significant impact on the national economy. The fields eligible for priority examination include semiconductors, displays, and secondary batteries.

Patent applications in the chip and display sectors have taken an average of 1.6 months to be approved, much shorter than the average 15.9 months required for general examinations.