South Korea

Latest

View all

23 Apr 2019

US patent litigation is down, but not for Korean companies

South Korean government study also shows that NPEs continue to target foreign defendants in places like Marshall, Texas (pictured) post TC Heartland Read more

16 Apr 2019

Huawei leverages patent transactions for peace and profit

Recent assignments showcase different ways Huawei reaps value from patent deals: one sealing its settlement with Samsung, another arming America’s most prolific NPE Read more

8 Apr 2019

Reforms seek to boost South Korea's patent market

Firms welcomed tougher measures against infringers at IPBC Korea 2019 last week, but there are concerns about a recent initiative to attract more foreign litigants through the use of English-language hearings Read more

25 Mar 2019

Qualcomm wins JFTC reversal, but faces other questions on Asian competition front

After nine years of legal manoeuvring, the US chipmaker has won approval for its licensing practices in Japan. But in other parts of the region, antitrust doubts remain Read more

Refine content by:

Designs

View all

18 Mar 2019

Japan could join Korea in hosting English-language patent litigation

The government is quickly moving on to its next proposal for patent litigation reform, weeks after successfully pushing amendments on damages and evidence collection onto the legislative agenda Read more

28 Jun 2018

A timeline of Apple v Samsung and why the smartphone wars aren’t over yet

The sprawling patent battle that was arguably the central conflict of the smartphone wars, came to an end as the pair announced that they had reached a settlement. We re-visit all of the key events in the seven year struggle. Read more

Finance

View all

19 Jul 2018

Despite Samsung settlement management of former BlackBerry patents changes hands

Earlier this week a judge in the Eastern District of Texas officially dismissed the lawsuit between Samsung and Fundamental Innovation Systems International (FISI) after the pair settled their dispute. FISI had accused the tech giant of infringing… Read more

3 Nov 2017

Samsung Electronics scoops up nearly 500 patent assets from defunct US search startup

With a valuation of just over $600 million, Quixey was not quite a unicorn, but it is one of the biggest Silicon Valley startups to go out of business thus far in 2017. The Mountain View-based developer of mobile search platforms and digital… Read more

2 Nov 2017

Intellectual Discovery plans sale of its venture capital unit later this year

Korean patent fund Intellectual Discovery (ID) is seeking a buyer for its subsidiary ID Ventures, according to the company’s website. IAM understands the fund is weighing multiple offers already, and just one week remains before the bidding deadline… Read more

8 May 2017

Venture branch of Korean patent fund notches another profitable year and looks to broaden its scope

The venture capital arm of Korean patent fund operator Intellectual Discovery recorded another profitable year in 2016, according to an annual financial disclosure. The firm also has a new fund in the works that will take it beyond the technology… Read more

FRAND/SEPS

View all

4 Jan 2019

All the major China IP stories you missed over the holidays

Retrial ordered in Huawei v InterDigital; Apple representatives threatened with detention in continuing injunction flap; national IP appeals court opens doors and much more from the Middle Kingdom Read more

18 Dec 2018

Huawei vs Samsung conflict is about more than patents

As the pair duke it out in an SEP licensing dispute, the Korean company's chipmaking division fears crucial trade secrets have already made their way to Shenzhen Read more

26 Nov 2018

Huawei acquires patents from firm run by former Pantech IP head

Seoul-based Innovative Technology Lab transferred 20 telecom-related patents to the Chinese company last month. A common inventor links the portfolio to some of the Pantech patents acquired by Apple earlier this year. Read more

31 Jul 2018

LG Electronics settles with Ericsson as it ramps up its own assertion effort

New global cross-licence ends a four month-long US litigation case. In the meantime, LG is becoming more aggressive with its own patent portfolio, as evidenced by recent enforcement efforts. Read more

Law & Policy

View all

18 Mar 2019

Japan could join Korea in hosting English-language patent litigation

The government is quickly moving on to its next proposal for patent litigation reform, weeks after successfully pushing amendments on damages and evidence collection onto the legislative agenda Read more

4 Jan 2019

All the major China IP stories you missed over the holidays

Retrial ordered in Huawei v InterDigital; Apple representatives threatened with detention in continuing injunction flap; national IP appeals court opens doors and much more from the Middle Kingdom Read more

17 Dec 2018

Korea adopts treble damages in bid to curb “technology extortion”

National Assembly approves Patent Law amendments to impose punitive damages and lower the burden of proof for rights holders Read more

27 Sep 2018

Patents in Asia 2018/2019: South Korea

Top legal experts in South Korea provide an exclusive insight into the country’s patent prosecution and litigation strategy for 2018 Read more

Litigation

View all

18 Mar 2019

Japan could join Korea in hosting English-language patent litigation

The government is quickly moving on to its next proposal for patent litigation reform, weeks after successfully pushing amendments on damages and evidence collection onto the legislative agenda Read more

12 Mar 2019

Korean solar firm leverages patent deals to go after Chinese rivals

A pair of acquisitions and the bankruptcy of a competitor opened the door for Hanwha Q CELLS to move from licensee to plaintiff in the latest indication that disputes in the clean energy sector are heating up Read more

4 Mar 2019

LG Chem scores settlement and licence with key Chinese battery maker

After calling off ITC investigation, South Korean company will receive royalties from Hong Kong-based supplier to brands like DJI, Oppo and Apple Read more

31 Jan 2019

Latest Samsung acquisition could re-ignite patent war with Apple

The Korean electronics giant has bought Corephotonics, an Israeli startup that is taking on Apple in Judge Lucy Koh’s Northern District of California courtroom Read more

Market Developments

View all

22 Mar 2019

Samsung owns the world's biggest portfolio of US patents - by far

The IAM/ktMINE US Patent 100 countdown today reaches the top 20 entities and reveals that the Korean conglomerate holds over 25,000 more active USPTO-granted assets than second-placed IBM Read more

18 Mar 2019

Japan could join Korea in hosting English-language patent litigation

The government is quickly moving on to its next proposal for patent litigation reform, weeks after successfully pushing amendments on damages and evidence collection onto the legislative agenda Read more

12 Mar 2019

Korean solar firm leverages patent deals to go after Chinese rivals

A pair of acquisitions and the bankruptcy of a competitor opened the door for Hanwha Q CELLS to move from licensee to plaintiff in the latest indication that disputes in the clean energy sector are heating up Read more

7 Feb 2019

Pantech deals more patents, this time to Oppo

Sell-off continues as new ownership seeks to get out from under nearly $100 million in debt with just a few hundred granted US patents remaining in its arsenal Read more

Non practising entities

View all

7 Feb 2019

Pantech deals more patents, this time to Oppo

Sell-off continues as new ownership seeks to get out from under nearly $100 million in debt with just a few hundred granted US patents remaining in its arsenal Read more

31 Jan 2019

Latest Samsung acquisition could re-ignite patent war with Apple

The Korean electronics giant has bought Corephotonics, an Israeli startup that is taking on Apple in Judge Lucy Koh’s Northern District of California courtroom Read more

4 Jan 2019

All the major China IP stories you missed over the holidays

Retrial ordered in Huawei v InterDigital; Apple representatives threatened with detention in continuing injunction flap; national IP appeals court opens doors and much more from the Middle Kingdom Read more

26 Nov 2018

Huawei acquires patents from firm run by former Pantech IP head

Seoul-based Innovative Technology Lab transferred 20 telecom-related patents to the Chinese company last month. A common inventor links the portfolio to some of the Pantech patents acquired by Apple earlier this year. Read more

Patent pools

View all

4 Jan 2019

All the major China IP stories you missed over the holidays

Retrial ordered in Huawei v InterDigital; Apple representatives threatened with detention in continuing injunction flap; national IP appeals court opens doors and much more from the Middle Kingdom Read more

9 Apr 2018

Top Korean university expands assertion campaign against Apple; rethinks patent pool strategy

A recent announcement by the HEVC Advance patent pool names the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) as one of a handful of new members from that country. The news comes just a few months after the top national polytechnic… Read more

Strategy

View all

22 Mar 2019

Samsung owns the world's biggest portfolio of US patents - by far

The IAM/ktMINE US Patent 100 countdown today reaches the top 20 entities and reveals that the Korean conglomerate holds over 25,000 more active USPTO-granted assets than second-placed IBM Read more

12 Mar 2019

Korean solar firm leverages patent deals to go after Chinese rivals

A pair of acquisitions and the bankruptcy of a competitor opened the door for Hanwha Q CELLS to move from licensee to plaintiff in the latest indication that disputes in the clean energy sector are heating up Read more

4 Mar 2019

LG Chem scores settlement and licence with key Chinese battery maker

After calling off ITC investigation, South Korean company will receive royalties from Hong Kong-based supplier to brands like DJI, Oppo and Apple Read more

7 Feb 2019

Pantech deals more patents, this time to Oppo

Sell-off continues as new ownership seeks to get out from under nearly $100 million in debt with just a few hundred granted US patents remaining in its arsenal Read more

Technology licensing

View all

12 Mar 2019

Korean solar firm leverages patent deals to go after Chinese rivals

A pair of acquisitions and the bankruptcy of a competitor opened the door for Hanwha Q CELLS to move from licensee to plaintiff in the latest indication that disputes in the clean energy sector are heating up Read more

4 Mar 2019

LG Chem scores settlement and licence with key Chinese battery maker

After calling off ITC investigation, South Korean company will receive royalties from Hong Kong-based supplier to brands like DJI, Oppo and Apple Read more

31 Jan 2019

Latest Samsung acquisition could re-ignite patent war with Apple

The Korean electronics giant has bought Corephotonics, an Israeli startup that is taking on Apple in Judge Lucy Koh’s Northern District of California courtroom Read more

28 Jan 2019

For Samsung Electronics, patents increasingly help close deals

Recent assignments show the Korean conglomerate transferring US patent rights to Nokia, TiVo and Philips against the backdrop of licence deals and strategic business partnerships Read more

Trademarks

View all

15 Nov 2016

Samsung’s $8 billion Harman acquisition is another major play in the auto sector’s patent market

Samsung Electronics’ $8 billion acquisition of Harman, which was announced yesterday, is not only the Korean tech giant’s largest purchase but is also another play in the rapidly evolving automotive technology market. As well as giving Samsung a… Read more

30 Aug 2016

A closer look at Korea’s latest IP trade results shows they aren’t quite as optimistic as initial reports suggest

IAM has followed the saga of South Korea’s negative IP rights receipts for some time now. While Korean media reports on the latest figures from the country’s central bank suggest that the deficit is gradually being chipped away, there are a couple… Read more

Trade secrets

View all

18 Mar 2019

Japan could join Korea in hosting English-language patent litigation

The government is quickly moving on to its next proposal for patent litigation reform, weeks after successfully pushing amendments on damages and evidence collection onto the legislative agenda Read more

31 Jan 2019

Latest Samsung acquisition could re-ignite patent war with Apple

The Korean electronics giant has bought Corephotonics, an Israeli startup that is taking on Apple in Judge Lucy Koh’s Northern District of California courtroom Read more

4 Jan 2019

All the major China IP stories you missed over the holidays

Retrial ordered in Huawei v InterDigital; Apple representatives threatened with detention in continuing injunction flap; national IP appeals court opens doors and much more from the Middle Kingdom Read more

18 Dec 2018

Huawei vs Samsung conflict is about more than patents

As the pair duke it out in an SEP licensing dispute, the Korean company's chipmaking division fears crucial trade secrets have already made their way to Shenzhen Read more

Valuation

View all

31 Jan 2019

Latest Samsung acquisition could re-ignite patent war with Apple

The Korean electronics giant has bought Corephotonics, an Israeli startup that is taking on Apple in Judge Lucy Koh’s Northern District of California courtroom Read more

16 Apr 2018

Troubled Korean smartphone maker supplies Apple with more US rights

Apple has acquired a portfolio of 27 US patents from Korean smartphone maker Pantech, according to assignment records filed with the USPTO. The transfer follows the iPhone manufacturer’s purchase last summer of a package of 11 patents from Korean… Read more

8 Mar 2018

Pickup of patents from former Yahoo! portfolio is latest acquisition move by Samsung Electronics

Altaba, the holding company that was formed to sell off former Yahoo! assets, has transferred a patent portfolio to Samsung Electronics, in what looks to be its second small-scale disposal. USPTO records show that the transfer was made in late… Read more

1 Mar 2018

Big business risks make narrowing the royalty gap difficult for Korean corporates

South Korea’s deficit in intellectual property rights not only remained in the red in 2017, but widened compared to the 2016, new figures from the Bank of Korea show. But its largest surplus in IP payments was still with China - totalling $ 1.98… Read more

South Korea

Latest

Designs

Finance

FRAND/SEPS

Law & Policy

Litigation

Market Developments

Non practising entities

Patent pools

Strategy

Technology licensing

Trademarks

Trade secrets

Valuation

Trending

Twitter

Find an expert