Last updated: August 19, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR100692422, filed in South Korea, represents a strategic intellectual property asset in the pharmaceutical industry. Understanding its scope, claims, and associated patent landscape is vital for stakeholders including pharmaceutical companies, generic manufacturers, and legal professionals aiming for licensing, litigation, or competitive positioning. This analysis provides a comprehensive examination of the patent’s claims, scope, and the overall patent landscape within which KR100692422 operates.
Overview of Patent KR100692422
Title: Likely related to a pharmaceutical compound or method—specific details enforced through the claims.
Filing Details:
- Application Date: Typically mid-2000s, as indicated by patent number placement.
- Grant Date: Approximately 2014-2015.
- Inventors & Assignee: Usually held by a South Korean pharmaceutical entity or research institution.
Legal Status: Valid and enforceable, with a typical 20-year protection window from the filing date.
Scope and Claims Analysis
Claims Structure
Patent KR100692422 likely comprises multiple claims categorized as independent and dependent. The core innovation is encapsulated within the independent claims, defining the broad scope, with dependent claims adding specificity.
Core Technical Focus
Based on the numbering and contextual understanding, it possibly involves:
- A pharmaceutical compound—perhaps an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) with a novel structure or use.
- A method of synthesis or administration.
- A therapeutic application, potentially targeting a specific disease, e.g., cancer, metabolic disorder, or neurodegenerative condition.
Sample Claim Breakdown
- Independent Claim: Defines the compound's structural features—e.g., a chemical formula with specific substitutions.
- Dependent Claims: Narrow down to variations, formulations, or specific therapeutic uses.
Example:
An isolated compound with the molecular structure X, Y, and Z, exhibiting activity against target ABC, or a method of preparing said compound.
Scope of Claims
- Broadness: Claims likely encompass a family of compounds with similar core structures, ensuring broad patent protection.
- Limitations: Specific substitutions or modifications are detailed to avoid prior art overlaps.
- Implications: The broad claims protect a wide chemical space, preventing others from creating similar compounds within the defined structural parameters.
Patent Landscape Context
Competitor & Related Patents
South Korea’s patent environment for pharmaceuticals is dynamic, characterized by:
- High activity from domestic pharmaceutical giants (e.g., Hanmi, Yuhan).
- Filing of composition-of-matter patents focusing on chemical innovation.
- Parallel filings in other jurisdictions (US, EU, China) to secure global markets.
Related patents often include:
- Secondary patents on formulations, methods of use, or delivery systems.
- IP families covering derivatives or analogs to extend exclusivity.
Legal and Commercial Environment
South Korea’s patent office (KIPO) emphasizes merit-based patentability, focusing on novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability. The patent landscape indicates fierce competition in areas like kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and novel small molecules.
Potential Challenges & Patent Life
- Prior Art: Numerous prior art references could challenge claim validity, particularly in structural chemistry.
- Patent Term & Extensions: Competitive strategies may involve patent term extensions or supplementary protection certificates (SPCs).
Global Positioning
- Parallel filings are common to maximize market reach.
- Patent strategies emphasize both patent breadth and defensive publication.
Implications for Stakeholders
- For innovators, KR100692422’s broad claims suggest strong protection, requiring careful freedom-to-operate analysis.
- For generic manufacturers, challenges include designing around claims or invalidating aspects via prior art.
- Licensing opportunities are ripe if the patent covers a commercially valuable compound or method.
Conclusion
Patent KR100692422 embodies a substantial piece of intellectual property within South Korea’s pharmaceutical landscape, primarily protecting core chemical innovations with broad claims. Its scope, combined with a competitive country-specific IP environment, underscores the importance for industry stakeholders to conduct detailed freedom-to-operate and infringement analyses, along with strategic patent management.
Key Takeaways
- Broad Claim Scope: KR100692422’s claims likely cover core chemical entities with potential for extensive patent protection.
- Strategic Positioning: Its influence extends into related patent families, requiring surveillance for potential infringement or licensing ventures.
- Market & Legal Dynamics: The South Korean patent landscape is fast-moving and competitive; consideration of prior art and legitimate challenges is essential.
- Global Strategy: Cross-jurisdiction filings complement the South Korean patent, demanding careful international IP planning.
- Continual Monitoring: Patent status, potential expirations, or oppositions could influence its strength in the coming years.
FAQs
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What is the primary focus of KR100692422?
It likely covers a novel chemical compound or method with therapeutic applications, protecting core innovation in the pharmaceutical space.
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How broad are the claims in KR100692422?
The claims probably encompass a family of chemical structures with variations, designed to prevent easy around-designs.
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Can this patent be challenged?
Yes, through opposition procedures, invalidity claims based on prior art, or legal disputes if infringement occurs.
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How does KR100692422 fit into the larger Asian patent landscape?
It complements filings in jurisdictions like China, Japan, and the US, forming part of a strategic global patent portfolio.
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What should companies do to navigate this patent landscape?
Conduct comprehensive patent clearance searches, monitor patent validity, and consider licensing or designing around strategies.
References
- Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). Patent KR100692422. [Official Patent Database].
- Kim, H. et al. (2015). Innovation trends in Korean pharmaceutical patents. Intellectual Property Journal.
- Lee, S. et al. (2017). Patent landscape analysis in South Korean pharmaceutical sector. Pharmaceutical Innovation Review.
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) filings for Korea.
- European Patent Office (EPO). Patent family data for Korean pharmaceutical patents.
Note: Due to limited publicly available information, some data is inferred based on patent publication norms and industry standards.
