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荣誉
Attorneys Keum Nang Park and Miji Lee Named to Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific’s ‘Top 100 Women in Litigation 2026’
Lee & Ko Attorneys Keum Nang Park of the Healthcare Group and Miji Lee of the Antitrust & Competition Group have been named to Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific’s ‘Top 100 Women in Litigation 2026’ in recognition of their outstanding achievements in healthcare-related patent and regulatory disputes, as well as major competition law matters.

Ms. Park serves as Co-Head of Lee & Ko’s Healthcare Group, advising clients on intellectual property matters—including pharmaceutical and biotechnology patents—as well as a broad range of regulatory matters involving the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and the Ministry of Environment. She brings deep and wide-ranging expertise across the healthcare industry, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, cosmetics, food, dietary supplements and household chemical products. Ms. Park was named to this year’s list in recognition of her success in defending market exclusivity on behalf of the patent holder of a world-renowned cardiovascular blockbuster drug, prevailing in more than 100 patent suits brought by numerous generic manufacturers. Her selection also reflects her achievements in protecting patent rights in litigation involving a widely used blockbuster biologic for chronic inflammatory disease and a prominent blockbuster biologic for ophthalmic disease.

Ms. Lee has extensive experience in fair trade law, having represented Korean and multinational companies before the Korea Fair Trade Commission and the courts in numerous matters involving cartels, abuse of market dominance, unfair trade practices and unfair support activities. She is also highly experienced in domestic and cross-border merger filings. Recently, she has acted for shipping companies, major platform operators and other Korean and international clients in a series of appeal proceedings challenging significant KFTC dispositions. Ms. Lee was named to this year’s list as a respected female litigator who represents her clients’ interests with unwavering commitment at every stage, from KFTC investigations and hearings through to follow-on litigation.

Benchmark Litigation, published by Delinian, formerly Euromoney, is a globally renowned publication focusing on dispute resolution and litigation. Its annual ‘Top 100 Women in Litigation’ list recognizes 100 leading female litigators in the Asia-Pacific region based on months of in-depth research and analysis.
2026.07.06
荣誉
Lee & Ko Recognized as Top-Tier Law Firm in Managing IP’s 2026 IP Stars Rankings


Lee & Ko has been recognized as a top-tier law firm in Managing IP’s 2026 IP Stars rankings across several key categories, including Trademark Disputes, Patent Disputes, Copyright & Related Rights, and IP Transactions. Of particular note, the firm has maintained the highest ranking in IP Transactions for six consecutive years since the category was first introduced, further underscoring its exceptional depth of expertise in this specialized area.

In the individual rankings, nine Lee & Ko attorneys and patent attorneys were recognized as IP Stars, Rising Stars, and Notable Practitioners, reflecting their distinguished expertise and achievements in the intellectual property field.

Ranked lawyers  
 Patent Stars: Un Ho Kim, Keum Nang Park, Hwan Sung Park
 Trademark Star: Vera Eun Woo Lee
 Rising Stars: Min Soo Kim, Min Wook Kim, Sung Hoon Kim

Lee & Ko’s IP Practice Group draws on its extensive international network to provide clients with sophisticated legal services in IP-related disputes and advisory matters across the United States, Europe, Japan and other major jurisdictions. Combining a deep understanding of both technology and law, the Group consistently delivers strategic and commercially effective solutions in complex IP matters.

A recent example of the Group’s litigation capabilities is its successful defense of Samsung Heavy Industries in a patent infringement action and related invalidation proceedings initiated by a Canadian company in connection with a floating LNG project involving Samsung Heavy Industries and Cedar LNG. The favorable outcome helped the project proceed without legal impediment.

The Group also successfully defended Korean semiconductor company Eugene Technology in a patent infringement action brought by a Japanese competitor, while pursuing a robust invalidation strategy that further reinforced the firm’s strength in semiconductor-related patent disputes. In addition, the Group’s active involvement in cross-border trade secret disputes continues to enhance its reputation for global competitiveness in high-stakes IP matters.

Managing Intellectual Property, also known as Managing IP, is a leading international publication in the field of intellectual property. Each year, it publishes the IP Stars rankings based on surveys and interviews with IP professionals worldwide, identifying leading law firms by jurisdiction and practice area.
2026.06.08
荣誉
Lee & Ko Achieves Top-Tier Rankings Across All Categories in IAM Patent 1000 2026
Lee & Ko has once again demonstrated its market-leading capabilities across the full spectrum of patent practice in the IAM Patent 1000 2026 rankings. The firm received the highest band ranking of Gold in both Litigation and Prosecution, and was also recognized as Highly Recommended in Transactions and Recommended in Trade Secrets. This marks the firm’s 12th consecutive year in the Gold band for Litigation and its fourth consecutive year as a Highly Recommended firm for Transactions.

Of particular note, 11 Lee & Ko attorneys and patent attorneys were named as Recommended Individuals across Litigation, Prosecution, Transactions and Trade Secrets, reflecting their outstanding expertise, technical sophistication and market-leading capabilities across all key areas of patent practice.

ranked lawyers  
  Litigation: Un Ho Kim, Hayoun Chun, Hwan Sung Park, Hyeon Gil Ryoo, John Kim, Keum Nang Park, Boo Gyu Kwak, Yong Sup Kim
  Prosecution: Hyeon Gil Ryoo, Sungsoo (Sean) Hwang
  Transactions: Hayoun Chun, Yong Jin Cho
  Trade Secrets: Hong Seon Kim

Lee & Ko’s IP Practice Group provides sophisticated legal services across the full life cycle of patent matters, from patent prosecution and portfolio strategy to high-stakes litigation, technology transactions and trade secret disputes. Drawing on its extensive international network and deep understanding of both technology and law, the Group advises clients in Korea and across major jurisdictions, including the United States, Europe and Japan, delivering strategic and commercially effective solutions in complex cross-border IP matters.

A recent example of the Group’s litigation capabilities is its successful defense of Samsung Heavy Industries in a patent infringement action and related invalidation proceedings initiated by a Canadian company in connection with a floating LNG project involving Samsung Heavy Industries and Cedar LNG. The favorable outcome helped the project proceed without legal impediment.
The Group also successfully defended Korean semiconductor company Eugene Technology in a patent infringement action brought by a Japanese competitor, while pursuing a robust invalidation strategy that further reinforced the firm’s strength in semiconductor-related patent disputes. In addition, the Group’s active involvement in cross-border trade secret disputes continues to enhance its reputation for global competitiveness in high-stakes IP matters.

IAM is a leading global patent publication that conducts extensive research each year, including submissions, surveys and interviews with patent professionals, law firms and clients around the world. Based on this research, IAM identifies and ranks leading law firms and practitioners in the patent field by jurisdiction and practice area.
2026.06.05
荣誉
‘Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific 2026’ Ranks Lee & Ko in Top Tier in 9 Practice Areas
Lee & Ko has been ranked as a Tier 1 law firm in Korea in nine practice areas by ‘Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2026’, a leading publication focusing on dispute resolution and litigation. 

Notably, Lee & Ko was also recognized as a Recommended Firm in the newly introduced Government and Regulatory category, further demonstrating the firm’s exceptional capabilities and competitiveness across a broad range of dispute resolution and regulatory matters. 


 Commercial and Transactions  
 Competition/Antitrust 
 Construction 
 Insolvency 
 Intellectual Property 
 Labor and Employment 
 Product Liability and Recall 
 Tax 
 White Collar Crime 

In addition, 54 Lee & Ko attorneys were selected as either ‘Litigation Stars’ or ‘Future Stars’ for their outstanding achievements in their respective fields.


- Litigation Stars
 Competition/Antitrust: Jangwoo Park, Jeong-Ho Sun, Pyoung Keun Song, Miji Lee, Hwan Jeong, Suruyn Kim
 Commercial and Transactions: Won Seok Ko, Jae Heon Park, Dajoo Jung, Jin Soo Han, Chang Ho Seong, Kiri Yi
 Construction: Myung Jong Kim, Seon Tae Kim, Chanik Jang, Yang Rak Kim, Jae Sung Yoo
 Government and Regulatory: Taeyop Lee, Kwangbae Park
 Intellectual Property: Un Ho Kim, Keum Nang Park, Hayoun Chun, Heon Lee
 International Arbitration: Sang Hoon Han, Eun Young Park
 Insolvency: Wan Shik Lee, Jung Hyun Lee, Jiwoong Lim
 Labor and Employment: Young Jin Kim, Hyunseok Song, Sang Hoon Lee, Chang Soo Jin
 Tax: Tom Kwon, Sung Hwan Kim, Ok Hyun Ma, Kyung Tae Kim, Steve Minhoo Kim, Jung Ho Ryu
 White Collar Crime: Jae Deog Bae, Jin So, Taeyop Lee, Younsub Jang, Jangwoo Park

- Future Stars
 Competition/Antitrust: Byong Ki Chung
 Construction: Gangcheol Chu, Janghee Yoon, Joo Hye Hong
 Intellectual Property: Jaewoo Kwak, Hyeon Gil Ryoo
 International Arbitration: Grace Yoon
 Labor and Employment: William Kim, Se young Kang, Yong Su Oh
 Product Liability and Recall: Dajoo Jung, Soo Yeon Oh
 White Collar Crime: Ki Jung Sung, Kyeong-seop Yoon

Benchmark Litigation conducts its annual rankings based on in-depth analysis of law firm submissions, as well as interviews with legal practitioners, clients, and litigation experts.
 
2026.05.06
研讨会/活动
Seminar on ‘Strategic Approaches to Global Technology Dispute Risk and K-Discovery’
On March 25, 2026, Lee & Ko hosted a seminar on ‘Strategic Approaches to Global Technology Dispute Risk and K-Discovery’.

The three-session seminar began with a welcome address by Mr. Un Ho Kim and was moderated by Ms. Hyunjin Koh.

In the first session, Mr. Hankil D. Kang presented “Strategies for Responding to U.S. IP Litigation,” covering an overview of U.S. litigation, practical guidance on handling complaints and discovery, as well as an in-depth discussion of investigation procedures at the International Trade Commission (ITC).

In the second session, Mr. Hayoun Chun discussed “Strategies for Utilizing and Responding to UPC Litigation,” introducing strategic approaches for companies to leverage the UPC, along with various case examples in detail.

In the final session, Mr. Jaewoo Kwak addressed “Responding to Risks Related to K-Discovery and ACP,” analyzing a range of practical issues that companies may face and proposing specific response strategies.

Lee & Ko’s IP & Technology Group handles not only traditional intellectual property matters; such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and unfair competition, but also disputes and advisory work related to advanced technologies including AI, data, semiconductors, and healthcare. The group has also accumulated extensive experience in cross-border litigation and international arbitration across various sectors. In particular, it has developed deep expertise over many years in discovery practice and is well-positioned to provide one-stop solutions for matters involving K-Discovery.
2026.03.25
荣誉
Chambers Global 2026 - Band 1 in 6 practice areas
Lee & Ko has been recognized once again in the 2026 Chambers Global Guide, securing Band 1 rankings in six practice areas and confirming its top-tier law firm status. As for the individual rankings, 37 attorneys of Lee & Ko have been recognized as leading lawyers for their remarkable performance in their respective practice areas.

Firm Rankings
 Banking & Finance  
 Capital Markets  
 Corporate/M&A  
 Intellectual Property 
 International & cross Border Capabilities: South Korean Firms
 International Trade 

Ranked Lawyers
 Banking & Finance: Yeo Kyoon Yoon, Woo Young Jung, Yong-Jae Chang, Myoung Chul Kwak, Dong Seok Woo
 Capital Markets: Hyunjoo Oh, Seunga Hyun, Jun Woo Cho 
 Capital Markets: Securitisation: Jin Hong Kwon
 Corporate/M&A: Sanggon Kim, Ho Joon Moon, Hyeong Gun Lee, Yong Joon Yoon, Daehoon Koo
 Dispute Resolution: Arbitration: Zachary Sharpe, Sanghoon Han, Grace Yoon
 Dispute Resolution: Litigation: Pyoung Keun Song, Dajoo Jung, Seon Tae Kim, Jae Heon Park
 IP: Un Ho Kim, Keum Nang Park, Hyeon Gil Ryoo, Vera Eun Woo Lee, Hankil D. Kang, Hwansung Park, Jaewoo Kwak, Hayoun Chun
 International Trade: Kichang Chung, Hyunsoo Joo, Young Gee Park, Young Jae Cho, Heysoo Kim 
 North Korea - general business law: Hyung Sub Lim (Foreign Expertise based abroad in South Korea)


Chambers Global Guide is a law firm evaluation publication released by Chambers and Partners, a leading global legal publisher based in England, which selects top law firms and top lawyers in the Asia-Pacific region each year based on a comprehensive analysis of data submitted by law firms, interviews with partner lawyers and clients, and recently accomplished work.

 
2026.02.13

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[Electronic Times] Korea Copyright Protection Agency reviews issues surrounding emergency blocking system… “Key is balancing speed and fundamental rights”
On April 27, 2026, Electronic Times reported on Attorney Eunwoo (Vera) Lee of Lee & Ko in connection with her participation in a forum. At the 1st 2026 Copyright Protection Future Forum, held by the Korea Copyright Protection Agency on the 23rd, she stated that access blocking should be used only in limited cases where warnings, takedown requests, or suspension of transmission are insufficient to protect rights, and that emergency blocking should be permitted only when all three requirements—clear infringement, urgency, and subsidiarity—are satisfied.
2026.04.27
[Chosun Biz] [Legal Inside] Plagiarism and regulatory battles… major law firms expand “game teams”
On April 26, 2026, Chosun Biz reported that major law firms are accelerating efforts to serve the gaming industry by strengthening their expertise in intellectual property and regulatory compliance. The article introduced the gaming team at Lee & Ko, noting that it is led by Attorney Jaewoo Kwak, with Attorneys Tae Joo Kim and Jongwook Kim also on the team. It added that Attorney Kwak majored in industrial engineering as an undergraduate and later earned a master’s degree in intellectual property law.
2026.04.26
[Korea Economic Daily] Lee & Ko Attorney Jaewoo Kwak Selected as Lawyer of the Year for Intellectual Property [2025 Korea Best Law Firms and Lawyers]
On November 28, 2025, the Korea Economic Daily reported that Attorney Jaewoo Kwak of Lee & Ko was named Lawyer of the Year in recognition of his remarkable work in the intellectual property, patents, and trademarks areas.
The Korea Economic Daily stated, “Attorney Jaewoo Kwak, selected as Lawyer of the Year in the intellectual property sector for four consecutive years, has successfully handled not only civil and criminal intellectual property disputes but also numerous cross-border patent and trade secret cases involving cutting-edge technology, such as U.S. federal court and ITC litigation.” It added, “He is also recognized for his outstanding expertise in discovery procedures, which are currently under discussion for introduction in Korea.”
Additionally, it stated, “A representative case handled by Attorney Jaewoo Kwak this year is the ‘ice water purifier’ patent infringement lawsuit filed by ChungHo Nice against Coway. Representing Coway from the appellate stage, he completely overturned the first-instance judgment awarding KRW 10 billion in damages (claims granted in favor of the counterparty) and secured consecutive wins in the appellate and Supreme Court proceedings for a dramatic reversal.”
2025.11.28
[Korea Economic Daily] Lee & Ko Attorney Un Ho Kim Named the Master of Comebacks in IP Industry [Selected as Role Model by Fellow Lawyers]
In a special survey conducted by Korea Economic Daily on August 25, 2025, among lawyers from Korea’s seven largest law firms, Attorney Un Ho Kim from Lee & Ko was selected as one of the “Role Model Lawyers” in the intellectual property (IP) field.
According to Korea Economic Daily, “Attorney Kim was behind major IP litigation cases that determined the very fate of Korea’s leading companies—such as the smartphone patent infringement disputes between Samsung Electronics and Apple, and the elastomer patent infringement lawsuits involving LG Chem, Mitsui Chemicals, and Dow Chemical.”
Korea Economic Daily added, “After his appointment as a judge in 1994, he served as a judge at the Intellectual Property Division of the Seoul High Court and as a judicial researcher specializing in IP matters at the Supreme Court of Korea. Since joining Lee & Ko in 2009, he has been instrumental in shaping numerous landmark IP precedents and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s foremost attorneys in the intellectual property field.
2025.08.25

最新案例

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Providing legal advice on production-related matters, including those for Netflix series, and assisting with intellectual property clearance
Lee & Ko has been advising on production-related contracts and intellectual property clearance—covering copyright law, the Unfair Competition Prevention Act, and publicity rights—for Netflix series since 2022, contributing to the smooth production and distribution of major works. Representative projects include Squid Game Seasons 2 and 3, Culinary Class Wars, The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call, Karma, and Gyeongseong Creature Seasons 1 and 2.

Lee & Ko reviews a wide range of agreements essential to the production process, including talent and crew contracts, post-production agreements such as VFX, location leases, copyright use consents, and overseas PSAs for foreign shoots. Drawing on extensive experience, Lee & Ko provides practical, production-focused legal advice tailored to the needs of clients.

Lee & Ko’s clearance reviews primarily address issues in copyright, trademark, patent, and unfair competition law, as well as matters involving real names or depictions of real-life events. Depending on the content, Lee & Ko also advises on specialized issues, such as the use of Olympic symbols, youth protection in drama scenes and filming, and personal data consent. This breadth of expertise ensures that producers receive effective, comprehensive guidance across the many legal challenges of content creation.

Lee & Ko further supports clients on Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance matters, including preparing title reports and conducting IP clearance, to help mitigate the risk of future copyright and personality rights claims. Representative work in this field includes MBC dramas Chief Detective 1958, Doubt, and Oh My Ghost Clients; SBS dramas Revenant, The First Responders, Payback: Money and Power and JTBC’s Reborn Rich.

Through these production-related legal services, Lee & Ko helps Netflix and leading production companies to actively identify and resolve legal issues in advance, safeguard against disputes, and ensure the seamless development and release of content. Lee & Ko continues to play a trusted role across numerous high-profile productions, earning consistent recognition and positive feedback from both Netflix and its production partners.

 
2025.06.30
Obtained a complete win on behalf of a secondary battery equipment manufacturer in litigation seeking an injunction and damages for patent infringement
On November 19, 2021, Company C, a manufacturer of equipment for secondary batteries, filed a lawsuit against Wonik PNE Co., Ltd. (the “Company”), which operates in the same industry. The counterparty alleged that the Company was infringing its patent for a “secondary battery pouch folding device” (the “Subject Patent”) and sought both an injunction and KRW 3 billion in damages.

Representing the Company, Lee & Ko argued that the true inventor of the Subject Patent is employee A, and that the Subject Patent amounts to an employee invention that rightfully belongs to the Company. On this basis, Lee & Ko argued that the counterparty’s claim of patent infringement constituted an abuse of patent rights, since the Company was the legitimate patentee. The facts showed that employee A completed the invention while still employed by the Company, but did not disclose it to the Company. Instead, A provided the design drawings to another employee, B. After leaving the Company, B filed for and registered the Subject Patent in his own name, and later transferred it to the counterparty, a company he had established. Lee & Ko persuasively argued that, under these circumstances, the counterparty’s assertion of patent infringement was an abuse of rights. As a result, the Company secured a complete victory at the first instance on October 11, 2024.

Although Company C filed an appeal, Lee & Ko, acting on behalf of the Company, initiated a claim against C seeking the transfer of the Subject Patent registration. The courts recognized that the application for the Subject Patent qualified as an “application filed by an unentitled person” and ruled in favor of the Company. The Company secured a complete victory at both the first instance and on appeal before the IP High Court. On June 5, 2025, the Supreme Court dismissed C’s appeal, thereby rendering the final the judgment. Following this decision, C withdrew its own appeal, making the case fully resolved.

Lee & Ko’s IP Practice Group conducted a detailed analysis of the technical features of the Subject Patent, the Company’s technical data, as well as related email communications and messenger records. Based on this review, the team successfully proved that the Subject Patent was not B’s personal invention, but rather an employee invention by A, thereby securing a judgment ordering the transfer of the patent rights. Consequently, C’s claims for an injunction and damages for patent infringement were also dismissed. This case highlights Lee & Ko IP’s outstanding litigation capability, demonstrating how thorough technical examination and rigorous legal analysis can lead to a complete victory for the client.
 
2025.06.12
The first-ever court judgement recognizing patent infringement for postings on an overseas e-commerce platform
Lee & Ko successfully secured the IP High Court’s first-ever judgment holding that posting and selling products falling within the scope of a Korean patent on an overseas e-commerce platform constitutes an “offer for assignment” and therefore amounts to patent infringement in Korea.

The Chinese company Y advertised and listed for sale products covered by a Korean patent owned by Italian sock knitting machine manufacturer Lonati on the Chinese platform Alibaba and on its own website. In doing so, Y provided product information in Korean, displayed prices in Korean won, indicated domestic delivery options, and even offered consultation services — thereby clearly targeting Korean consumers. As a result, Lonati filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Y, seeking an injunction.

The court of first instance emphasized the principle of territoriality and ruled that the posting activity occurred overseas where Alibaba’s servers were located, thereby denying the injunction. In response, Lee & Ko highlighted the need to ensure effective patent protection in the era of global online commerce. Lee & Ko argued convincingly that, consistent with the global trend of relaxing strict territoriality to ensure substantive patent protection, Y’s acts of providing Korean-language product information, displaying prices in Korean won, and specifying domestic delivery options constituted a clear inducement of sales targeting Korean consumers.

The IP High Court accepted these arguments, holding that, irrespective of the server’s physical location, Y’s postings constituted an “offer for assignment” directly targeting Korean consumers. On that basis, it recognized patent infringement and granted the injunction.

This judgment marks the first case in which the Korean courts have acknowledged that, even if a foreign company posts infringing products on an overseas e-commerce platform, such conduct may qualify as an “offer for assignment” under Korean patent law if it is deemed to substantially induce sales to Korean consumers, thereby amounting to patent infringement. By analyzing the substantive nature of cross-border transactions on online platforms and drawing upon foreign case law trends, Lee & Ko has successfully introduced a new interpretative standard for protecting intellectual property rights in connection with postings on overseas platforms, thereby broadening the scope of substantive patent protection in Korea.
 
2025.05.22
Providing Successful Regulatory Support for New Product Launches by Global F&B and Alcohol Companies
Global food, beverage, and alcohol companies have steadily expanded into the Korean market. With Korean consumers’ tastes evolving quickly and a keen sensitivity to trends, many international F&B brands are eager to launch new products locally.

In addition to the Food Sanitation Act, Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (“MFDS”) enacted the Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control in 2016, which imposes stringent regulations specifically on imported products. As a result, newly launched products must undergo a rigorous process—including customs clearance and inspection by local MFDS branches—before they can be approved for importation. For global F&B and alcohol companies with strong compliance cultures, this regulatory landscape requires thorough legal and regulatory review to ensure full compliance prior to product launch.

In anticipation of this growing demand, in 2023, Lee & Ko brought on board Mr. Kangbong Lee as a senior advisor. Mr. Lee has over 30 years of experience at MFDS, where he held key roles, including Director of Imported Food Policy Division. Leveraging his extensive expertise, Lee & Ko has provided highly effective regulatory advice on a wide range of issues related to imported food compliance and safety management, which often can be complex to navigate.

As a result of close collaboration with Lee & Ko’s Healthcare Practice Group, several leading F&B and alcohol companies could successfully launch their new products in the first half of 2025. These achievements reflect Lee & Ko’s deep regulatory expertise and seasoned experience in the F&B sector.
 
2025.04.30
Serial wins in invalidation and judgment revocation actions over a patent for transparent adhesive sheets used in displays
A Japanese chemical company, M, filed a patent infringement lawsuit against a Korean company, represented by Lee & Ko, asserting three patents. In response, the Korean company initiated invalidation actions against all three of M’s patents. The patents in dispute concerned transparent adhesive sheets used in displays, meaning the case had a direct impact on the supply of materials to display manufacturers. The outcome of the litigation was therefore critical for both parties, as it would determine whether the display materials could continue to be supplied, thereby carrying significant business implications for both companies.

In this case, major law firms represented both parties, and the dispute was fiercely contested. Lee & Ko, representing its client, a Korean company, conducted an extensive search of prior art and filed invalidation actions on the grounds of lack of inventiveness. As a result, Lee & Ko’s arguments were accepted, and both the Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board (“IPTAB”) and the IP High Court found the patents in dispute to be invalid.

Although the patents concerned adhesive sheets (i.e., product inventions), they included a limitation stating that “the adhesive sheet is used upon exposure to ultraviolet rays”. Lee & Ko argued that this limitation merely indicated that the adhesive sheet contained a component enabling curing, rather than imparting a substantive distinction. In the chemical field, product claims are often limited by properties, physical characteristics, or methods of use in addition to the actual components. However, in many cases, the claimed invention is essentially identical to prior art. By closely analyzing the patent specification and interpreting the claims accordingly, Lee & Ko demonstrated logically and convincingly that the invention did not differ in substance from known technology, leading to the conclusion that it lacked inventiveness.

Both the IPTAB and the IP High Court agreed with Lee & Ko’s arguments and held that the patents were invalid for lack of inventive step. This case is expected to serve as a valuable precedent for evaluating inventiveness in the field of chemical inventions.
 
2025.04.17
Establishing Approval and Intellectual Property Portfolio Strategies in Response to the Introduction of the Data Protection System under the Amended Pharmaceutical Affairs Act
Following the amendment to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act (“PAA”), which took effect as of February 21, 2025, a pharmaceutical data protection system has been introduced in Korea. The amendment restructured the previous re-examination system and now allows for exclusive protection of clinical trial data for new drugs and orphan drugs for a certain period. As a result, pharmaceutical companies are afforded clearer protection for their intellectual property rights and trade secrets under PAA, independently of patent rights.

Lee & Ko has advised various clients on the impact of this new system’s introduction, with a particular fucus on how scenarios involving generic drug approval applications for new drugs may change in comparison with the previous re-examination system. Especially, it was closely examined whether orphan drugs may enjoy a longer protection period under the new system than was granted under the former regime. Based on these analyses, Lee & Ko provided concrete timelines regarding expected generic entry under various approval scenarios, thereby enabling the clients to develop forward-looking portfolio strategies.

Lee & Ko’s healthcare experts possess in-depth expertise not only in the regulatory realm of PAA but also in patent and intellectual property disputes. With this cross-sectional expertise in regulatory affairs and intellectual property law, Lee & Ko has been recognized for delivering timely, customized, and effective legal solutions to its clients.
 
2025.02.28
Obtaining a victory in appeal seeking to overturn the IPTAB’s dismissal of Webzen’s appeal against the refusal to register its key intellectual property, the 'MU' trademark
Lee & Ko represented Webzen, a leading Korean game company, in a case before the IP High Court (appeal from a decision of the Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board (“IPTAB”)), where the key issue was whether the trademark application for 'MU' should be refused on the grounds that it was a simple and common mark. On January 23, 2025, the IP High Court ruled in favor of Webzen, finding that the 'MU' trademark had acquired distinctiveness as an indicator of a specific source, and therefore granted full relief to Webzen. The judgment became final and conclusive on February 18, 2025.

'MU' is the mark of Webzen’s flagship online game, which has been in use for more than 23 years since the launch of the game MU in 2001. Building on the success of 'MU', Webzen subsequently released a series of related titles, including the MU Series (such as MU Origin), which have also achieved great success. In this case, Webzen applied in 2021 to register the word mark 'MU' without any stylization. However, the Korean Intellectual Property Office (“KIPO”) issued a decision refusing the application on the grounds that 'MU', as a simple combination of the capital letters “M” and “U” without stylization, constituted a simple and common mark lacking distinctiveness under Article 33(1)(vi) of the Trademark Act. Webzen’s subsequent appeal (appeal against refusal of trademark registration) before IPTAB was likewise dismissed.

Starting from the IP High Court stage, Lee & Ko newly took over the representation of Webzen and filed an appeal seeking to overturn the IPTAB’s refusal decision. In doing so, Lee & Ko presented extensive evidence of Webzen’s use of the ‘MU’ mark over the roughly 23 years between the launch of the MU game and the time of the IPTAB decision, as well as materials showing the concurrent use of MU, MU Series and  , thereby demonstrating that repeated use of the common ‘MU’ element had significantly enhanced the distinctiveness of the mark and persuading the court through a multifaceted presentation. As a result, the IP High Court held that, given Webzen’s continuous use of “MU” and related marks since 2001, the ‘MU’ mark itself had acquired distinctiveness through use by the time of the decision, thereby allowing Webzen to successfully secure registration of the trademark. This case underscores how thorough legal analysis on acquired distinctiveness, combined with the passionate collection and presentation of evidence, resulted in persuasive advocacy and the successful protection of a key trademark, fully demonstrating the expertise and accumulated know-how of Lee & Ko’s Intellectual Property Practice Group.
 
2025.01.23

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