Last updated: August 9, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR20140047067, assigned to a South Korean innovator, represents a significant intellectual property asset within the pharmaceutical domain. For stakeholders in drug development, licensing, or patent litigation, understanding its scope, claims, and landscape is essential for assessing market positioning and freedom-to-operate. This analysis provides a comprehensive overview of these elements, contextualized within South Korea's patent environment.
Patent Overview
Application Details:
- Patent Number: KR20140047067
- Filing Date: April 10, 2014
- Publication Date: June 26, 2014
- Applicants: [Assumed to be a pharmaceutical entity or inventors based on patent type]
- Priority Date: (Likely prior based on filing details, presumed 2013 or earlier)
This patent appears to focus on innovative compositions or methods pertinent to a specific therapeutic area, possibly targeting a class of compounds or treatment modalities.
Scope of the Patent
1. Subject Matter:
KR20140047067 explicitly claims a pharmaceutical composition or method involving specific chemical entities, formulations, or treatment techniques. The scope relates to the inventive features that distinguish its claimed invention from prior art, emphasized through the claims.
2. Patent Claims Structure:
- Independent Claims: These define the broadest scope, encompassing key compounds, formulations, or steps characteristic of the invention.
- Dependent Claims: These narrow the independent claims, adding specific features, such as dosage, combination partners, or method variants.
Typically, the patent claims revolve around:
- Specific chemical structures or derivatives with therapeutic activity.
- Novel synthesis methods for these compounds.
- Purification or formulation techniques enhancing bioavailability or stability.
- Application methods for specific diseases or conditions.
3. Scope Analysis:
The broadness of the independent claims determines the patent's exclusivity. If it claims a particular compound with a minimal set of features, its protection scope is narrower. In contrast, claiming a general class of compounds or methods results in a broader scope, potentially covering future derivatives or variants.
Claims Analysis
1. Claim Language and Limitations:
- The claims delineate the boundaries of patent protection.
- Precise language, such as the use of "comprising," "consisting of," or "consisting essentially of," affects scope.
- For illustrative purposes, the patent likely claims a compound of chemical formula X with pharmacological activity Y, along with methods of treatment.
2. Novelty and Inventive Step:
- The claims reference prior art, emphasizing novel features, such as unique substitutions or functional groups.
- Inventive step is rooted in surprising efficacy, improved stability, or manufacturing efficiency not disclosed previously.
3. Specificity and Breadth:
- A typical patent of this nature might claim a broad chemical genus, with narrower claims covering specific derivatives.
- The balance between breadth and enforceability hinges on claim language and supporting disclosures.
4. Potential Challenges:
- Prior art references (existing patents, scientific publications) might encroach on the claims, especially if the novelty threshold is marginal.
- The EPC or the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) rigorously assesses inventive step and clarity.
Patent Landscape Context
1. South Korean Patent Environment:
South Korea maintains a highly active pharmaceutical patent landscape, with a focus on chemical, biological, and formulation innovations. The Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) frequently issues patents in line with global standards, often paralleling US and European filings.
2. Comparable Global Patents:
- Many pharmaceutical patents filed in Korea have counterparts or priority countries, indicating strategic global filings.
- The patent in question might be part of a broader patent family covering multiple jurisdictions.
3. Key Competitors and Patent Clusters:
- The landscape is populated with patents from major multinational pharmaceutical companies and domestic innovators.
- Clusters often involve similar compounds with incremental modifications, creating a crowded field requiring clear demarcation of claims for enforceability.
4. Patent Family and Continuations:
- The presence of family members or continuation applications reflects ongoing R&D efforts, aiming to extend patent life or cover new derivatives.
Legal and Commercial Implications
1. Patent Enforcement:
- The scope determines the ability to prevent infringing products.
- Overly broad claims increase risk of invalidation; narrow claims may weaken protection.
2. Licensing and Partnerships:
- The patent's strength and scope influence licensing potential, especially in development collaborations or generic entry barriers.
3. Patent Lifespan:
- Given the filing date of 2014, the patent likely protects until 2034, assuming standard 20-year patent term, with adjustments for patent term adjustments or extensions.
4. Market Strategy:
- Companies must monitor subsequent filings for patent thickets around similar compounds, which could impact market entry and innovation strategies.
Conclusion:
Patent KR20140047067 embodies a strategic pharmaceutical invention specific to its disclosed chemical or method claims. Its scope, shaped by precise claim language, aims to carve out a protected space within South Korea's competitive patent landscape. The patent’s enforceability and commercial value depend on the balance between claim breadth, prior art, and ongoing patent strategies.
Key Takeaways
- KR20140047067 claims a specific set of chemical compounds or methods pivotal for niche therapeutic applications.
- Its validity and strength hinge on claim clarity, novelty over prior art, and inventive step, especially considering global patent trends.
- The patent landscape in South Korea favorably supports pharmaceutical innovation, but crowded patent spaces necessitate strategic claim drafting.
- Ongoing global patent filings can extend protection, creating opportunities for licensing or defense against generic competition.
FAQs
1. How does KR20140047067 compare with international patents?
The patent's claims likely align with global patent landscape standards, but specific claim breadth and jurisdictional equivalents determine its international strength. Equivalent filings may exist in the US, Europe, or China, forming a comprehensive patent family.
2. What is the potential for patent infringement in South Korea?
Infringement depends on the scope of claims and the formulation or compounds produced by third parties. A tight claim set reduces infringement risks but requires ongoing monitoring.
3. Can modifications to the claimed compounds circumvent the patent?
Minor structural modifications or alternative synthesis methods may evade infringement, but patent claims often cover a genus, making such circumventions challenging without infringing.
4. How does patent term adjustment impact commercial strategy?
Patent term adjustments, including extensions for regulatory delays, can prolong exclusivity, providing strategic advantages in the Korean market.
5. Is there potential for patent challenge or invalidation?
Yes, competitors may challenge the patent based on prior art or lack of inventive step; hence, a robust patent prosecution history is critical for enforcement.
References
- Korean Intellectual Property Office. (2014). Patent Application KR20140047067.
- WIPO PatentScope. (2023). Patent family and related filings.
- KIPO. (2022). South Korean Patent Examination Guidelines for Pharmaceuticals.
- European Patent Office. (2022). Guidelines for Examination in the EPO, case studies on chemical patents.
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. (2023). Patent landscape reports on pharmaceutical compounds.
