Overview on Revision of Patent Act and Utility Model Act (announced on June. 11. 2014)
1. Ease of requirement for acceptable filing date
Ease of requirement for the specification to take the earliest filing date (Article 42ter newly added, etc.)
※ Article 8bis, etc. of the Utility Model Act
(Ease of requirement for language in the specification) When filing patent application, it will be possible to state the specification not only in Korean but also in a foreign language (current English only). Provided, that it is necessary to submit a Korean translation within the time limit (14 months from the earliest priority date).
▶ Application from January. 1. 2015 will be applied.
Transition of criteria to amend or correct an application in a foreign language (Article 47, 208, etc.)
※ Article 47, etc. of the Patent Act applies mutatis mutandis to Article 11 of the Utility Model Act
Currently only a Korean translation of the specification can be amended even though it is mistranslated. By changing the criteria of amendment, the amendment of original document in a foreign language will be allowed.