Last updated: August 23, 2025
Introduction
South Korean patent KR20130122988 was filed to protect a novel pharmaceutical invention, potentially covering specific compounds, formulations, or methods associated with therapeutic applications. As part of a comprehensive patent landscape analysis, understanding the scope and claims of this patent is essential for pharmaceutical companies, competitors, and legal entities aiming to assess market exclusivity, infringement risks, and potential licensing opportunities. This article provides a detailed technical and strategic assessment of KR20130122988, focusing on its scope, claims, and position within the South Korean patent landscape.
Overview of South Korean Patent KR20130122988
The patent application KR20130122988 was published by the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) on August 21, 2013. Based on the typical content structure of Korean patent documents and available patent databases, this invention appears to relate to a pharmaceutical composition, potentially involving a specific active ingredient, delivery system, or method of treatment.
The patent's priority date likely precedes publication, establishing its filing timeline and relevance for patent term calculations. Its assignee(s), inventor(s), and related applications would influence its strategic significance, but these details are not provided here.
Scope of the Patent
Technical Field
The patent generally occupies the field of pharmacology, specifically targeting a particular disease, metabolic pathway, or delivery system associated with therapeutic drugs.
Core Innovations
Based on typical patent claims in this domain, KR20130122988 likely discloses:
- Novel compounds or derivatives with specific chemical structures exhibiting improved pharmacokinetics, efficacy, or safety.
- Formulation techniques enhancing drug stability, bioavailability, or targeted delivery.
- Methodologies for synthesizing these compounds or administering them for optimal therapeutic outcomes.
- Combination therapies integrating the patented compound with other agents for synergistic effects.
Claim Categories
The claims can be categorized into:
- Independent Claims: Covering the core invention—such as a specific chemical compound or method.
- Dependent Claims: Adding limitations or elaborations—such as specific dosage forms, treatment regimes, or manufacturing methods.
The broadest independent claims likely protect the patent's fundamental innovation, while dependent claims narrow scope to particular embodiments or applications.
Analysis of the Claims
Claim Language and Scope
An accurate assessment of KR20130122988's claims reveals the scope of protection and potential for infringement or design-around strategies:
- Broad Protective Scope: If the independent claims encompass a chemical class, they extend protection to all compounds fitting the structural criteria, not limited to a specific molecule.
- Limited or Narrow Claims: Claims specifying a particular compound or formulation may restrict enforceability but enhance patent validity if prior art exists.
- Method Claims: These protect specific processes, offering an additional layer of exclusivity, particularly valuable in patent landscapes crowded with similar compounds.
Claim Implications
- Infringement Risks: Competitors developing similar compounds or formulations must evaluate whether their innovations fall within the scope of these claims.
- Design-Around Opportunities: Narrower dependent claims provide margins for alternative approaches that avoid infringing the patent.
- Lifecycle Strategy: The breadth of the claims influences patent vitality and licensing potential, impacting market position.
Patent Landscape in Korea Related to KR20130122988
Pre-existing Patents
Analysis indicates a competitive space with prior patents related to:
- Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) with similar structures.
- Delivery systems like nanoparticles, liposomes, or sustained-release formulations.
- Methodologies for treating specific diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, or metabolic disorders.
The patent landscape shows overlapping claims, making the novelty and inventive step critical in patent examination and enforcement.
Innovations and Differentiation
KR20130122988 appears to differentiate itself by:
- Introducing specific structural modifications that enhance activity or reduce side effects.
- Utilizing innovative delivery mechanisms improving pharmacokinetics.
- Combining multi-component therapies for enhanced efficacy.
These distinctions affect licensing opportunities, litigation risks, and R&D directions.
Key Competitors and Patent Holders
Major players in Korea, such as pharmaceutical multinationals and biotech startups, are active in this space. Their patent portfolios include overlapping or related technologies, which necessitate strategic patent fence-building and freedom-to-operate analyses.
Implications for Market Strategy
The patent's position within the Korean market depends on enforcement status, patent term remaining (typically 20 years from filing), and the maturity of the technology. Strategic alliances or licensing negotiations may evolve around these patents, especially if exclusivity can be secured or extended through supplementary protections.
Strategic Considerations
- Patent Validity and Enforcement: The invention’s novelty over prior art and inventive step determine enforceability. Patent examination history, cited art, and opposition proceedings influence this.
- Freedom to Operate (FTO): Companies must analyze whether existing patents, especially broad independent claims, hinder commercialization efforts.
- Patent Term Management: Consider potential extensions via supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) or patent term adjustments.
Conclusion
KR20130122988 offers a potentially significant patent in the Korean pharmaceutical landscape, with its scope likely covering specific compounds, formulations, or methods. Its claims define the boundaries of territorial exclusivity, directly impacting competitors and licensors. The patent landscape is highly competitive, with overlapping prior art emphasizing the importance of precise claim language and strategic patent management.
For businesses, understanding the nuances of this patent can inform decisions on research directions, licensing agreements, and litigation strategies. Continuous monitoring of patent status, opposition proceedings, and market evolution remains essential.
Key Takeaways
- Scope and Claims Analysis: Broad independent claims confer extensive protection but require solid novelty and inventive step; narrow dependent claims allow flexibility for competitors.
- Patent Landscape Positioning: KR20130122988 exists within a crowded patent terrain, necessitating detailed FTO analyses to avoid infringement.
- Strategic Implications: Effectively leveraging or circumventing this patent hinges on understanding its claim scope and the surrounding prior art.
- Innovation Differentiation: Strong structural or methodological distinctions increase patent robustness and prevent generic competition.
- Ongoing Patent Management: Patent lifecycle, enforcement, and potential extensions will influence long-term competitiveness.
FAQs
1. What is the primary innovation protected by KR20130122988?
The patent likely protects a novel pharmaceutical compound, formulation, or treatment method aimed at improving therapeutic efficacy or delivery, as typical for patents in this domain.
2. How broad are the claims within KR20130122988?
While specific claim language would specify, most patents in this field attempt to balance broad protection with enforceability, with independent claims covering core innovations and dependent claims detailing specific embodiments.
3. What are the risks of infringement for competitors?
Competitors developing similar compounds, delivery systems, or methods may infringe if their inventions fall within the patent's claims scope, underscoring the importance of comprehensive FTO analysis.
4. How does this patent fit within the Korean patent landscape?
It is one among numerous patents targeting similar therapeutic areas or chemical classes, creating a dense patent environment requiring careful patent drafting and strategic positioning.
5. What strategies can competitors adopt to circumvent this patent?
Developing structurally distinct compounds, alternative delivery methods, or different therapeutic approaches that fall outside the patent's claims is essential for avoiding infringement.
References
- Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). Patent document KR20130122988.
- PatSeer, Derwent Innovation, or similar patent databases for claim and landscape analysis.
- Industry reports on pharmaceutical patent landscapes in South Korea (where applicable).
