KIPO Publishes Guidebook on 'Intellectual Property Mix Strategy'

Cover of the Intellectual Property Mix (IP-MIX) Strategy Manual for Optimizing Technology Protection. Provided by the Korean Intellectual Property Office

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) announced on the 30th that it will publish and distribute the "Intellectual Property Mix (IP-MIX) Strategy Manual for Optimal Technology Protection."

The Intellectual Property Mix strategy refers to a strategy that comprehensively protects technology by utilizing various intellectual properties such as patents, trade secrets, designs, and trademarks according to the characteristics of the technology.

The manual was published to support strengthening technology protection for companies, research institutes, and universities through the Intellectual Property Mix strategy.

The manual includes criteria for selecting appropriate protection measures between patents and trade secrets, considering the characteristics of technologies developed by companies, research institutes, and universities, along with real case examples.

Additionally, to explain effective technology protection methods according to industry characteristics, the manual provides Intellectual Property Mix (IP-MIX) strategies for nine major industrial sectors including materials and components, machinery and equipment, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and bio, electronics and information communication, and aerospace. It also introduces in-house intellectual property management systems by company size to enable practical implementation of the IP-MIX strategy in technology development sites.

The manual was jointly prepared by KIPO and the Industrial Confidentiality Protection Center of the National Intelligence Service, and anyone can access the related content through the websites of KIPO and the Trade Secret Protection Center.

Kim Si-hyung, Director of the Industrial Property Protection Cooperation Bureau at KIPO, stated, "Effective technology protection requires a strategic approach tailored to the characteristics of each technology field and institution," adding, "We hope the published manual will be widely used to establish optimal technology protection strategies at technology development sites."