On the 18th, the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) announced that it will hold the ‘WIPO-KIPO Hague International Design Seminar’ in cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) at the Korean Intellectual Property Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
This seminar is organized to guide domestic users in effectively utilizing the international design (Hague) application system, providing a comprehensive overview and procedures. Experts from the WIPO Hague member countries will participate to offer system explanations and conduct Q&A sessions.
The seminar will introduce △an overview of the Hague system △methods for international design applications △strategies for filing, and also offers online participation. The Hague system is an international scheme allowing simultaneous acquisition of design rights in multiple countries with a single application, which is beneficial for companies seeking overseas expansion.
This event is part of a personnel exchange program between KIPO and WIPO. Through this program, both organizations dispatch personnel to each other, and in February of this year, a seminar on WIPO’s dispute resolution services was also held.
As of 2024, Korea’s Hague design application number was 892, marking an 8.1% increase from the previous year, ranking third globally. This indicates a growing interest of domestic companies in overseas design protection.
In addition to the Hague system, trends in the design systems of major countries such as the United States and Japan will also be introduced at the seminar. It is expected to provide practical information to applicants and agents preparing for overseas design applications.
Shin Sang-gon, Director of Industry Property Protection Cooperation Bureau at KIPO, stated, “The Hague system is an efficient means of securing international design rights,” and “We will continue to provide relevant information to help domestic users actively utilize international intellectual property systems.”
