The Intellectual Property Office, KAIST, and the Intellectual Property High Court will jointly work to strengthen intellectual property competitiveness in line with the digital and artificial intelligence (AI) transition. The three institutions signed a three-party memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen Korea's intellectual property competitiveness in the digital and AI transition era at the Government Complex Daejeon on the 19th.
The agreement was prepared to create a tighter cooperation structure by bringing together each institution's policy, system, practice, and research capabilities from the creation of intellectual property through dispute resolution. As digital and AI technologies spread across industries and intellectual property issues become more complex, the aim is to strategically strengthen the response system.
Under the agreement, the three institutions will jointly develop an intellectual property response strategy needed for the digital and AI transition era and pursue joint projects that encompass intellectual property creation, dispute resolution, and talent development. Specifically, they plan to hold joint academic events, share practical experience related to dispute resolution, conduct joint research on AI-based intellectual property issues, and run personnel exchanges and training programs.
They will also strengthen execution to ensure the agreement does not remain a declaration. Each institution will designate a responsible department and promote the formation of an interagency consultative body to review and coordinate tasks.
The three institutions have already built several foundations for cooperation. The Intellectual Property Office has operated the Advanced Intellectual Property Program (AIP) with KAIST and the Intellectual Property High Court to provide education that combines technology and law, and has expanded cooperation in intellectual property dispute resolution by dispatching technical advisors to the Intellectual Property High Court.
Intellectual Property Office Commissioner Kim Yong-seon said, "The Intellectual Property Office, the control tower for intellectual property, KAIST, the leading science and technology university, and the Intellectual Property High Court, which handles intellectual property rights disputes, have laid the groundwork for comprehensive cooperation," adding, "A system for creating and protecting intellectual property befitting the era of digital and AI transformation will be further strengthened."
KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung said, "As advanced technology disputes increase due to the AI transition, we expect this three-party cooperation to provide a foundation for intellectual property trials and litigation to be carried out more quickly and accurately."
Intellectual Property High Court Chief Judge Han Gyu-hyeon also emphasized that it "will serve as an important foundation for Korea to develop into a globally trusted leading country in intellectual property."