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Domestic and international patent sites

Pine IP Firm
December 29, 2024

A patent is a system that legally protects the ideas and technologies of companies or individuals.

Therefore, if you are responsible for patent acquisition and analysis, you need to obtain relevant information Patent Site Utilization is essential.

Major domestic patent sites

1. KIPRIS (Patent Information Net)

  • URL: https://www.kipris.or.kr
  • Operating Entity: Korean Intellectual Property Office & Korea Patent Information Institute (KIPI)
  • Key Features: Allows searching for various intellectual property rights including domestic patents, utility models, designs, and trademarks. You can search by various criteria such as application number, registration number, applicant name, and IPC classification code.
  • Advantages: Excellent accessibility thanks to Korean language service. It's free, and you can quickly check most domestic patent information.

2. Patent Office (KIPO)

  • URL: https://www.kipo.go.kr
  • Operating Entity: Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO)
  • Key Features: Provides information on patent application and registration status, examination and trial-related information, various announcements, and system changes
  • Tips for using it: Useful for planning your application by familiarizing yourself with system changes and examination guidelines

International Patent Site

1. Google Patents

  • URL: https://patents.google.com/
  • Operating Entity: Google
  • Key Features: Free search of patent documents from over 100 Korean Intellectual Property Offices worldwide. English-based but supports automatic translation
  • Advantages: Provides broad national coverage, making it convenient to grasp overseas market trends as a whole.

2. WIPO PATENTSCOPE

  • URL: https://patentscope.wipo.int/
  • Operating Entity: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
  • Key Features: Worldwide patent searches are available, centered on PCT (International Patent Application) documents. Provides multilingual search functionality
  • Advantages: When considering international patent applications for multiple countries, it is advantageous for obtaining comprehensive materials

3. EPO Espacenet

  • URL: https://worldwide.espacenet.com/
  • Operating Entity: European Patent Office (EPO)
  • Key Features: Holds not only European patents but also a vast global patent database
  • Advantages: An essential source of information for companies and researchers entering the European market

Major Country-Specific Patent Sites

If overseas expansion or country-specific patent trends are important, directly using the patent office websites of those countries can provide more in-depth information.

1. United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

  • URL: https://www.uspto.gov/
  • Key Features: Provides information on various intellectual property rights such as patents, trademarks, and copyrights within the United States. Rich materials on examination workflow, application procedures, and more
  • Tips for using it: By directly checking U.S. patent numbers (e.g., USXXXXXXXB2), you can immediately check examination status, family information, and more.

2. Japan Patent Office (JPO)

  • URL: https://www.jpo.go.jp/
  • Key Features: Searchable in Japanese and English, offering a variety of services for patents, utility models, trademarks, and designs
  • Advantages: Accurate local patent data can be obtained for analyzing the Japanese market

3. China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA)

  • URL: http://english.cnipa.gov.cn/
  • Key Features: You can check official publications for patents, utility models, designs, trademarks within China, and English services are also supported.
  • Advantages: Essential for understanding competitors' patent status and local IP trends in the vast Chinese market

Key Points to Know Before Patent Search

  1. Understanding the International Patent Classification (IPC)
    • Knowing the patent classification codes by field improves search accuracy.
    • Examples: Electronic devices (H), chemicals (C), etc.
  2. Selecting the Right Keywords
    • Synonyms, Abbreviations, and TerminologyPrepared as wide as possible for searching
    • Example: Electric vehicle - > "electric vehicle," "EV," "battery technology," etc.
  3. Specify search scope (date, country)
    • If you focus on information from the past 5~10 years, it's easier to grasp the latest technology trends.
    • Use the detailed search function on the patent office website of the country you plan to enter
  4. Public Gazette vs. Registered Gazette
    • public gazette: A patent that has only been filed but has not yet been registered
    • Registered Gazette: Officially registered as a patent after examination
    • Distinguishing between the two according to the purpose of the search can help avoid duplicate applications or infringement risks.
  5. Check when database updates are available
    • Some sites may have delayed real-time updates, so cross-verification with official sites is necessary.

Patent search process: This is how you succeed

  1. Basic survey: Broadly searched on KIPRIS and Google Patents to identify competitive technologies
  2. Detailed Analysis: In-depth research of target markets at major overseas sites (USPTO, JPO, CNIPA, EPO, etc.)
  3. Filtering results: Selects data using classification codes, keywords, applicant names, date ranges, etc.
  4. Check claims and specifications: Closely review the specific technical scope and rights scope stated in the specification
  5. Similar Patent Inspection: Establishing strategies to check for duplicate patents and identify differentiation points

Leveraging the right patent sites is the starting point of competitiveness.

In today's rapidly innovating market, patent analysis is essential. Patent SiteThe process of using this to understand competitors' patent status, avoid duplication, and find differentiating elements of new technologies determines core competitiveness.

  1. Free & Reputable: Basic search using KIPRIS, the Patent Office site, and Google Patents
  2. Compared to overseas markets: In-depth analysis by country using WIPO PATENTSCOPE, EPO Espacenet, USPTO, JPO, CNIPA
  3. Maximizing Search Efficiency: International Patent Classification (IPC), multilingual and abbreviated keywords, and filtering functions

Don't just check the patent search results, Application Number, Claims, Status of Registration and thoroughly examine the scope of the patent and the possibility of infringement. With thorough preparation and analysis, you can reduce the risk of patent disputes and maximize your technological competitiveness.

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