The Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) said Monday that it will expand its "Visiting IP Dispute Doctor" service to individual companies and begin accepting applications in July.
The Visiting IP Dispute Doctor is a program operated to prevent and respond to disputes that may arise during Korean exporters' overseas intellectual property (IP) activities. Until now, the program had provided training to associations and related organizations tied to major export consumer goods. KIPO changed its policy so that any company currently engaged in or preparing for export business can receive the program, regardless of size.
When a company applies by selecting its desired field and topics of interest — such as patents, trade secrets, trademarks, or designs — an IP Dispute Doctor team composed of KIPO's specialized attorneys and patent attorneys visits the company directly to provide customized diagnosis and prescriptions that take into account the company's industry, target countries, and dispute risks. If necessary, the service can also be linked to support programs such as patent dispute response strategy support and K-brand dispute response support.
Companies wishing to participate can complete an application form by referring to the notice posted on KIPO's website. Applications received will be operated flexibly through the end of the year, taking into account region, industry, and desired field.
