KIPO raises request for examination fees by 20% as of January 1, 2009.

1. KIPO has announced the increase of official fees in requesting for examination by 18% ~ 20% and filing an appeal against a final refusal by 48%, while decreasing patent annuity fees by 19%~25% for the first through ninth annuities. KIPO will implement amended fee plans as of January 1, 2009 including the above key changes.

2. The key changes in the fee plans are as follows and the exchange rate of (1 USD : 1,100 Korea Won) has been applied.

 3. KIPO will increase the official fees for filing an appeal against a final refusal in design patent and trademark applications by 100%. Thus, the fee for filing an appeal in a design patent will be USD109.09 (120,000 Korean Won) and it will be USD 218.18 (240,000 Korean Won) in a trademark application.

4. As the above amended fee plans have been confirmed to become effective in 2009, it is desirable to request for examination and file an appeal before December 31, 2008, if possible, and submit patent annuity payments after January 1, 2009 for those registrations whose payment deadline falls on January 1, 2009 and later.