Source: KIPO
Date  : May 14, 2010

South Korea remains out of the the ‘ Special 301 Watch List’ for two consecutive years. On the ‘Special 301 Watch List’ published on April 30, a means for the United States to communicate its concerns about the need to protect and enforce IPR, U.S Trade Representative’s Office (USTR) recognized the efforts by the Korean government, civil organizations and firms in the protection of intellectual property rights by keeping Korea off the list.  

※The USTR releases its Priority Watch List (PWL) and Watch List (WL) in the ‘Special 301 Report’ reviewing a country’s intellectual property sector every year. 

To enhance the nation’s status as one of the world’s five key intellectual property offices, known as IP5, KIPO has set a goal of strengthening pro-intellectual property atmosphere by designating it as a national project. Specific action plans to achieve the goal were established: forming a collaborative environment with companies, civil organizations and the government to root out counterfeit, formulating an effective IPR protection system and creating a private sector-led basis to protect IPR.

KIPO established the Korea Intellectual Property Protection Association in January 2009, implementing civil movements with Consumers Korea to jointly protect IPR. To cope with fast-changing patterns of IPR infringement, district offices have been established in three provincial areas and a 24-hour monitoring system to eliminate the online distribution of counterfeit was created. 

Furthermore, KIPO will protect the IPR of domestic companies through various initiatives including the introduction of special judicial police and the revision of intellectual property laws.