Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

The Korea Trade Commission (KTC) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea announced on November 21 during its 454th KTC meeting the decision to launch investigations on the alleged uninterruptible power system (UPS) patent infringement of Japanese supplier “A” at the request of another Japanese company TMEIC.

As for investigations requested by Japanese company Semiconductor Energy Laboratory on the alleged smartphone secondary battery patent infringement by a Chinese smartphone manufacturer and a Korean importer, the KTC issued the determination that the respective respondents have not committed patent infringement.

Meanwhile, the KTC overturned its previous judgment (January 20, 2017) ruling in favor of investigation requestor Infineum Korea on the alleged infringement of its patent on lubricant additives upon the patent being found invalid, determining that infringement was not committed. 

At the request of camping equipment company Naturehike, the KTC has also launched investigations on a domestic camping gear importer’s alleged infringement of Naturehike’s tent and sleeping gear trademark.