May 17, 2025
KIPO Strengthens IP Cooperation with Patent Offices in Europe
Commissioner KIM Wan Ki of the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) held bilateral meetings on April 30 in Munich respectively with Antonio Campinos, President of the European Patent Office (EPO), and Eva Schewior, President of the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA), to exchange views on key intellectual property (IP) issues and explore avenues for enhanced cooperation.
During his meeting with EPO President Campinos, Commissioner Kim shared the view on the importance of building a user-friendly IP system. Both sides agreed to hold an information session in Korea on the Unitary Patent system of Europe, which came into operation in June 2023, to improve understanding among Korean users. The meeting also covered potential collaboration on the effective implementation of a "Global Assignment" system, a growing topic of interest within global industries. The heads acknowledged the need for having an information-matching platform that can help startups holding IP rights connect with potential investments, agreeing to promote the sharing of information on policies and best practices regarding the facilitation of IP commercialization and financing.
At the subsequent KIPO-DPMA Heads Meeting, the two offices signed a revised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on comprehensive cooperation in the field of intellectual property, for the first time in 31 years since the original agreement in 1994. The new MoU includes collaborative initiatives on IP administration and patent examination practices related to emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI). The two sides agreed to resume examiner exchange programs that compare and analyze examination results in areas such as AI and green technologies. They also reached a consensus to launch a Collaborative Search Program starting in 2026, after going though working-level consultations.
Prior to the bilateral meetings, on April 29, Commissioner Kim hosted a roundtable at the KOTRA Munich Trade Center, joined by representatives from KIPO's IP Center in Europe, Samsung Electronics, LG Energy Solution, and Korean patent attorneys affiliated with the Korean Intellectual Property Experts in Europe (KIPEU). During the discussion, he listened to IP-related challenges faced by Korean companies operating in Germany and explored possible solutions.