Revisions to the Korean Patent Act ("KPA") will bring about important changes to both patent litigation, patent prosecution and introduce a new way to challenge granted patents. Most of the revisions were promulgated on February 29 and will come into effect March 1, 2017. The expansion of evidence submission orders in patent litigation was promulgated on March 29 and will come into effect June 30 this year. The expanded evidence submission orders should make it easier for litigants to get relevant information before the court in patent litigation cases. Meanwhile, the other changes, such as allowing for patent examiners to request foreign prosecution history and to reopen examination even after issuing a Notice of Allowance, is designed to help improve patent quality. Another change will give third parties an ex parte procedure to challenge a granted patent.
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