March 23, 2024
As character consumption increases, issues regarding character intellectual property rights are also coming to the surface more frequently.
Cases of replication or theft for the purpose of leveraging character recognition are also occurring frequently.
To prevent such incidents in advance, we must increase our understanding of intellectual property rights and ensure that rights are acquired through legitimate procedures and protected by law.
Concept of Character Intellectual Property Rightsclass The Importance of Intellectual Property RightsNow that we've looked into that, let's explore two intellectual property registration methods that character IP holders should definitely acquire!
The most basic right when it comes to characters'copyright'.
Copyright is a right automatically granted at the time of a character's creation, but it is difficult to be 100% protected by the law.
To protect against unconscious and conscious copyright infringement, it is recommended to register your copyright with the Korea Copyright Commission.
Copyright registration is very easy to do online, and after registration, rights are guaranteed for 70 years after death.
I will explain the copyright registration process, the items you need to prepare, and the registration fees in detail!📚
Standardized image of the character
We need an image that can show the character's exact appearance.
Design files for the front, side (left), side (right), and back of the basic character form are required. Since it may be difficult to register successfully if the resolution is low, please make sure to create high-quality images of 512 x 512 px or higher.
All files must be saved in image file formats such as jpg, bmp, and gif.
Applicant Information
You must prepare information such as the applicant's Korean name, English name (optional), nationality, postal code, address, and email address.
If there are co-authors, please prepare their information as well.
Access the Korea Copyright Commission website: Official website of the Korea Copyright CommissionPlease access it.
Sign Up and Log In:To register a copyright, you must first sign up and log in to the website.
Select General Work Registration:After logging in, select 'Register General Works' from the menu at the top of the homepage.
Go to Online Registration Page:Go to the online registration application page and proceed with the copyright registration process.
Preparation and Submission of Application Documents:Complete and submit the necessary application documents. For this process, you will need image files of the created character (jpg, gif, png, pdf, etc.) and a written explanation of the character's registration intent. Please attach standardized images of the character that you have prepared in advance.
Fee Payment:The copyright registration fee is 23,600 KRW per character per application, including fees and registration costs. Fees are subject to change, so please check the latest information on the Korea Copyright Commission website.
Registration complete and verification:Once all procedures are completed, the copyright registration application is finalized. The review process takes 3 to 7 business days. Upon final registration, a notification text message will be sent, and you can check the registration details on the Korea Copyright Commission website.
In South Korea, the process of registering a character as a trademark can be carried out directly by the IP holder or with the assistance of an expert.
Here, we will take a closer look at the two methods.😊
preliminary researchCheck whether the character trademark you intend to apply for is already registered or is currently pending. This is a mandatory step before filing a trademark application, and you can search for it on the Korea Intellectual Property Information Service (KIPRIS).
Preparation for filingSelect the character trademark to be filed and the designated goods (goods or services on which the trademark will be used). You must prepare the application form based on the combination of the trademark and the designated goods.
Submission of applicationSubmit the application and necessary documents to the Korea Intellectual Property Services (KIPRIS) or the Korean Intellectual Property Office. You can submit them online, but you must pay the application fee.
Review processOnce an application is submitted, the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) examines whether the trademark is registrable. During this process, if the applied trademark is found to be similar or identical to an existing trademark, the application may be rejected.
Registration Decision and Payment of Registration FeeIf the examination is passed, a decision on trademark registration is made. Once the registration fee is paid within a certain period after the decision, the trademark registration is completed.
Expert Selection:Select a patent attorney or expert with extensive experience in trademark applications. When selecting an expert, it is important to verify their experience and success stories in the relevant field.
Preliminary Consultation and Strategy Formulation:We discuss the trademark to be filed, designated goods, and scope of services through preliminary consultations with selected experts. Based on this, we establish the optimal filing strategy.
Preliminary research:Experts conduct a preliminary investigation to determine whether the trademark you intend to file is already registered or currently pending. This process is essential to increase the likelihood of success and minimize issues during the application process.
Preparation and Submission of Application:Experts draft the application and necessary documents and submit them to the Korean Intellectual Property Office. The expert's experience is crucial in this process and can enhance the accuracy and completeness of the application.
Response to the review process:After the application is submitted, the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) examines the registrability of the trademark. Experts address various issues that may arise during the examination process and submit amendment documents if necessary.
Registration Decision and Payment of Registration Fee:Once the examination is passed and a decision for trademark registration is made, the registration is completed by paying the registration fee within a specified period. Experts manage this process and provide support until the registration is finalized.
With the recent increase in the number of trademark applications, it takes an average of 1 year and 5 months to complete trademark registration, and generally, a trademark application costs between 200,000 and 500,000 won.
I think many of you are probably wondering which method is better: filing directly or filing through a professional.
The biggest advantage of filing directly is that you can minimize application costs by saving on fees that would otherwise have to be paid to a professional.
If you wish to minimize costs and learn the application process firsthand, you may consider filing directly.
However, when filing a trademark, you must consider time, effort, and the ability to respond to legal disputes in addition to the cost.
If you want a stable response to complex procedures and legal issues, even if it costs more, filing through a professional can be a good option.
Above all, it is important to carefully choose the method that is most suitable for your situation!
Inner Booth has met with numerous character IP holders to date, and we found that many of them lacked a deep understanding of intellectual property rights and were experiencing difficulties due to failures in protecting their rights.
Based on this experience, Inner Booth would like to emphasize the importance of investing in securing intellectual property rights.
Today's characters are more than just simple drawings or designs; they are important intellectual property that embodies the IP holder's creativity, identity, and significant business potential.
I hope you consider intellectual property registration to be a necessity, not an option, to protect these characters.
You may hesitate to invest in protecting intellectual property rights due to the financial burden.
However, considering the various opportunities and value that can be created through characters, I believe that this investment will eventually return as a significant profit.
If you love your character, don't hesitate any longer and invest generously in registering your intellectual property rights! 🌟🛡️
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