Korea New ISA/IPEA for US PCT Applicants

Starting January 1, 2006, the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) will be available as an international searching and examining authority for international applications filed with the USPTO under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). According to the USPTO website, "The agreement will allow applicants additional flexibility to choose a given international authority based on the technology disclosed in the international application, speed of services provided and cost of obtaining searches and examination of international applications."

An applicant designating KIPO as the International Searching Authority (ISA) will pay a search fee of $218 instead of $300 or $1000, as applicable if the USPTO is the ISA. An applicant designating KIPO as the International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) will pay an international examination fee to KIPO equivalent of $218 instead of $600 or $750, as applicable if the USPTO is the IPEA. Applicants filing international applications with the USPTO may, generally, also elect to have them searched and/or examined at the European Patent Office.

Click here for some of the history behind this change from Oppedahl & Larson.