KOR-Bahrain Introduce 'Patent Examination Highway'... "Rapid Patent Acquisition"

The Korean Intellectual Property Office announced on the 15th that it will pilot the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) program between Korea and Bahrain for three years starting from the 15th of this month.

The PPH is a system that allows for expedited examination and patent registration in one country based on the determination that a patent can be granted in the other country when the same patent application is filed and received in both countries.

The pilot operation of the PPH between Korea and Bahrain is being promoted based on a cooperation proposal from Bahrain's Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Currently, the time required to obtain a patent registration in Bahrain is 36 to 48 months. In contrast, the average time to acquire a patent in Korea is around 20.1 months (as of 2023), which is shorter than in Bahrain.

Considering this, if an applicant who has obtained a patent in Korea applies for the same patent in Bahrain through the PPH, it will have the effect of shortening the processing time. For example, in the case of Mexico, which applies the PPH with Korea, the average patent acquisition period for Korean companies is reported to be reduced from 48 months to 4.9 months.

Bahrain is a region with a finance and investment-friendly environment and serves as a logistics and business connection hub among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Korean companies are expanding cooperation in key industries such as energy, petrochemicals, and infrastructure by utilizing Bahrain's conditions. The GCC includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain.

Jung Yeon-woo, Director of the Patent Examination Planning Bureau, said, “Korea has signed and implemented the PPH with a total of 39 countries, including Bahrain,” adding, “Through this, Korean companies are expected to quickly secure patent rights in Bahrain and establish a favorable position in market preemption and core technology protection.”