KIPO – Overview of the Trademark System in Korea

Overview of the Trademark System


  • History of the Korean trademark system
  • What is a trademark?
    • Concept of a trademark under the Trademark Act
    • Concept of a service mark
    • Concept of a collective mark
    • Concept of a business emblem
  • Neighboring concepts of a trademark
    • Trademark and trade name
    • Trademark and geographical indication
    • Trademark and domain name
  • Purpose of a trademark system
  • Function of a trademark
  • Requirements for trademark registration
  • Information on trademark applications
    • A Single application for a single trademark
    • Designation to use a registered trademark
    • Additional application of designated articles
    • Divisional application
    • Conversion of application
    • Application to renew the term of a registered trademark
    • Application trend
  • Trademark right
    • Term of a trademark right
    • Extinguishment of a trademark right
    • Additional application of designated articles
    • Divisional application
    • Application to register the reclassification of goods
    • Transfer of a trademark right
    • Trademark license system
  • Protection of an owner of trademark rights
  • Protection of well-known foreign trademarks
  • Collective mark right for a geographical indication
History of the Korean trademark system
1908: The Trademark Decree was promulgated.
1946: The Patent Institute was established and patent laws were enacted.
1949: The Trademark Act was enacted.
1977: The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) was established as an independent office under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy.
1979: Korea joined the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
2002: KIPO submitted an application to WIPO to join the Trademark Act Treaty.
2003: KIPO submitted an application to WIPO to join the Madrid Agreement.