Republic of Korea: Act No. 11962 of July 30, 2013, on Partial Amendment to the Patent Attorney Act

January 31, 2014

Republic of Korea: The Act No. 11962 of July 30, 2013, on Partial Amendment to the Patent Attorney Act, which introduces amendments to the Patent Attorney Act, the Patent Act, the Utility Model Act, the Trademark Act and the Industrial Design Protection Act was adopted on July 30, 2013, and entered into force on January 31, 2014. Among others, the amendments refer to the extension of the scope of the term "legal representative" as an IP rights applicant of the IP rights holders. Accordingly, a legal representative is not only a patent corporation but also a liability-limited company (LLC), a legal form of company created and operated by more than five patent attorneys-at-law.