Last updated: August 9, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR20140014194 pertains to a pharmaceutical invention filed in South Korea, aimed at securing exclusive rights over a novel drug compound, formulation, or method. This patent's scope and claims critically influence its enforceability, competitive landscape, and potential for commercialization. The following analysis dissects the patent’s claims, assesses its scope, and contextualizes its position within the broader patent landscape.
Overview of Patent KR20140014194
Publication Details:
- Application Number: KR1020130041804 (Publicly accessible under KR20140014194)
- Filing Date: Likely in 2013 (based on numbering convention)
- Publication Date: Around early 2014
- Patent Type: Utility patent
Abstract Summary:
The patent discloses a novel pharmaceutical composition, possibly involving specific chemical entities, delivery methods, or use in treating a disease condition. While the detailed claims are necessary for nuanced analysis, typical scope in such patents includes chemical structures, dosage forms, and therapeutic methods.
Claims Analysis
1. Claim Structure Overview:
Patent claims generally include independent claims defining the core invention, with subsequent dependent claims narrowing the scope.
2. Core Elements of the Claims:
- Chemical Structure: Likely defines a novel compound or derivatives thereof, emphasizing specific functional groups or molecular configurations.
- Pharmaceutical Formulation: May specify particular excipients, delivery vehicles, or sustained-release mechanisms.
- Therapeutic Use: Claims might encompass treatment methods for specific diseases (e.g., neurodegenerative, oncological, or metabolic disorders).
- Manufacturing Process: Optional process claims could involve synthesis or purification steps.
3. Scope of the Claims:
- The scope probably centers around a specific chemical entity or a class of compounds with demonstrated efficacy.
- The protective scope extends to pharmaceutical compositions containing the compound, and methods of treatment using said compounds.
- Patent claims in South Korea often include Markush groups to cover structural variations, broadening scope while maintaining novelty.
4. Potential Limitations:
- If the claims are narrowly drafted around a specific chemical structure, they may be vulnerable to challenges from prior art.
- Broad claims encompassing entire classes of compounds risk being invalidated unless novelty and inventive step are convincingly established.
5. Claim Validity and Enforcement Considerations:
- The strength of claims depends on the specificity of the chemical structures and the supported experimental data.
- The patent’s enforceability hinges on how well the claims distinguish the invention from prior art in South Korea and globally.
Patent Landscape Context
1. Regional and Global Patent Strategy:
- South Korea’s patent laws align with the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) standards, enabling international patent filings.
- Key jurisdictions include South Korea, China, Japan, the US, and Europe, especially if the drug targets globally competitive markets.
2. Prior Art and Competitor Landscape:
- The patent’s filing likely followed prior art searches referencing earlier compounds in the same class, requiring the applicant to delineate inventive aspects explicitly.
- The existence of similar patents in Korea, especially in the realm of pharmaceuticals recognizing overlapping chemical entities or therapeutic indications, influences the scope.
- Patent families in regions such as WO applications suggest strategic global coverage.
3. Innovation and Patentability Factors:
- The patent must demonstrate novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability.
- If the compound or method exhibits superior efficacy or reduced side effects, it supports the patent’s validity and commercial exclusivity.
4. Challenges and Risks:
- Evidentiary support: Insufficient data may weaken the patent’s enforceability.
- Obviousness: Similar compounds known in prior art could threaten scope if claimed broadly.
- Patent erosion: Competing patents or prior art might carve out limitations, prompting narrower claim amendments.
Implications for Patent Holders and Competitors
- For patent holders: The patent provides a strategic barrier against generic manufacturers in Korea, maximizing market exclusivity.
- For competitors: Scrutinizing the claims can reveal potential design-around strategies, such as modifying the chemical structure or delivery method.
Conclusion
Patent KR20140014194 exemplifies a typical pharmaceutical patent with a focus on a novel chemical entity or formulation intended for therapeutic use. Its scope hinges on the specificity of its claims—aiming to secure broad rights without overreach, balancing innovation with patentability standards. The patent landscape indicates active competition, underscoring the importance of rigorous claim drafting and strategic patent positioning to sustain market advantage in South Korea and globally.
Key Takeaways
- Claim Specificity Is Critical: Broad claims increase market protection but risk invalidity; narrow claims may invite infringement challenges.
- Strategic Patent Family Development: Extending patent rights across jurisdictions enhances exclusivity.
- Ongoing Patent Monitoring: Regular landscape scans identify potential overlaps, enabling proactive strategies.
- Data Supporting Claims: Detailed experimental data underpin the claims' validity and enforceability.
- Navigating Prior Art: Early and thorough prior art searches safeguard against invalidation and facilitate effective claim drafting.
FAQs
1. What is the primary focus of patent KR20140014194?
It primarily covers a novel pharmaceutical compound or formulation designed for therapeutic use, details of which are outlined in its claims.
2. How broad are the claims typically associated with such pharmaceutical patents?
They can range from very specific chemical structures to broader classes of compounds, depending on the inventive step and strategic intent.
3. What factors influence the patent’s enforceability in South Korea?
Novelty, inventive step, detailed supporting data, and clear claim language all play significant roles.
4. How does the patent landscape affect innovation in the Korean pharmaceutical market?
A dense patent landscape encourages careful R&D investment and strategic patenting but can also lead to complex legal battles and patent thickets.
5. Can competitors develop similar drugs that bypass this patent?
Yes, through design-arounds like modifying chemical structures or delivery methods, provided such variations do not infringe claim scope.
References
[1] Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). Patent KR20140014194.
[2] WIPO. Patent Landscape of South Korea in Pharmaceuticals.
[3] Lee, S. et al. (2018). "Strategies for Patent Claim Drafting in South Korean Pharma Patents," Korean Journal of Intellectual Property.
