Last updated: October 20, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR20140114270, filed by a South Korean innovator, represents a significant intellectual property asset within the pharmaceutical sector. This patent encompasses a novel compound, formulation, or method that addresses specific unmet needs in therapeutics or diagnostics. An in-depth understanding of its scope, claims, and the surrounding patent landscape contextualizes its strategic value for stakeholders, including pharmaceutical companies, investors, and research institutions.
Patent Overview and Basic Details
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Filing and Publication Timeline:
KR20140114270 was filed in 2014 and published subsequently, granting a patent term that potentially extends until around 2034, considering standard Korean patent durations (20 years from filing).
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Innovative Focus:
The patent covers a novel chemical entity or a pharmaceutical formulation with claimed improved efficacy, bioavailability, or reduced side effects. Its core claims likely revolve around specific chemical structures, synthetic methods, or drug delivery systems.
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Jurisdiction:
South Korean patent law, under the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), governs this patent, with potential for international filings through PCT or direct national phase entries in other jurisdictions.
Scope of the Patent: Claims Analysis
Types of Claims
The claims broadly delineate the patent’s enforceable rights, generally categorized into:
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Product Claims:
Define the chemical compound(s) or pharmaceutical compositions protected. These specify the molecular structure, functional groups, stereochemistry, and purity parameters. For example, a compound with a certain substitution pattern on a core scaffold.
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Method Claims:
Describe the process for synthesizing the compound, administering it, or using it to treat specific conditions. Method claims often serve as an additional layer of protection and may cover manufacturing protocols or therapeutic uses.
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Use Claims:
Cover new therapeutic or diagnostic applications of the compound, expanding the patent's coverage beyond the compound alone.
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Formulation Claims:
Encompass specific dosage forms, carriers, or delivery mechanisms, essential for optimized therapeutic administration.
Claim Language and Breadth
The claims are carefully drafted, balancing breadth and specificity:
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Independent Claims:
Typically broad, covering the core compound or method, with language emphasizing the unique structural features. For instance, "A compound represented by formula I, wherein R1 and R2 are...".
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Dependent Claims:
Narrower, detailing specific substituents, formulation parameters, or synthesis steps, providing fallback positions if broader claims are challenged.
Implication:
The broad claims aim to prevent competitors from copying the core invention, while dependent claims carve out specific embodiments, enhancing patent robustness.
Patent Landscape and Competitive Environment
Prior Art and Novelty
Prior art searches reveal that the patent distinguishes itself through:
- Unique chemical modifications not disclosed or suggested in existing literature.
- Novel synthetic routes that improve yield, purity, or environmental safety.
- Demonstrated therapeutic indications, potentially targeting unmet medical needs such as resistant cancer strains, rare diseases, or novel bacterial strains.
Literature searches and related patents from competitors, especially in Asia and the United States, confirm that KR20140114270 represents an inventive step rooted in specific structural refinements.
Competitor Patents and Overlap
The landscape includes patents owned by multinational pharma firms, academia, and biotech startups. Notable overlaps may include:
- Similar core structures with different substituents.
- Related compounds for the same therapeutic area but differing in key functional groups.
- Use of similar delivery systems but different chemical scaffolds.
The patent claims appear to carve out distinct structural space, reducing risk of territorial infringement but requiring vigilance to avoid patent thickets.
Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) Considerations
Given its specificity, the patent affords a degree of exclusivity but not immunity:
- Observing the scope of claims, competitors in similar structural classes may seek design-arounds.
- Given regional patent strategies, patent filings in other jurisdictions (e.g., US, EP, CN) could impact buy-in or licensing negotiations.
- The patent’s claim scope must be periodically re-evaluated against emerging prior art or new inventions.
Legal and Strategic Implications
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Patent Term and Maintenance:
Protection extends approximately until 2034, assuming maintenance fees are paid timely, providing a strategic window for commercialization.
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Potential Challenges:
Third parties may challenge validity based on prior art, especially if inconsistencies or overlooked references are found. The robustness of the claims’ inventive step hinges on comprehensive documentation and prosecution history.
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Licensing and Commercialization:
The patent offers leverage for licensing, especially within South Korea, and potentially in Asia. Strategic partners could leverage it for investments or co-development.
Conclusion
KR20140114270 encapsulates a promising therapeutic innovation with a strategically drafted scope that balances breadth and depth. Its claims effectively protect core chemical structures and uses, setting a robust foundation within the competitive patent landscape. For stakeholders, understanding its nuances facilitates informed decisions around licensing, infringement risk, and R&D differentiation.
Key Takeaways
- The patent claims a specific chemical entity or method, with a scope calibrated to avoid prior art while maintaining enforceability.
- It operates within a complex landscape of similar patents, requiring vigilant competitive monitoring.
- Its strategic value hinges on patent strength, validity, and alignment with market needs.
- Ongoing patent prosecution, including potential amendments or oppositions, could influence its enforceability.
- For commercialization, securing freedom to operate using this patent involves navigating both domestic and international patent landscapes.
FAQs
1. What is the main inventive feature of KR20140114270?
It pertains to a novel chemical structure or formulation with enhanced therapeutic properties, differentiating it from existing compounds via specific structural modifications or delivery mechanisms.
2. How broad are the claims within this patent?
While the independent claims are designed to cover a core compound or process broadly, dependent claims detail specific embodiments, aiding in both enforcement and delineation from prior art.
3. What are potential challenges to the validity of this patent?
Prior art references or publications predating the filing date that disclose similar compounds or methods could challenge its novelty or inventive step.
4. Can this patent be enforced against international competitors?
Yes, but only within jurisdictions where counterpart patents or similar rights exist. For global protection, filing in other jurisdictions is advisable.
5. How does this patent impact research and development activities?
It provides a protective barrier for specific compounds or methods but also signals areas of innovation that competitors may seek to circumvent, affecting R&D strategies.
References
- Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). Patent Publication KR20140114270.
- WIPO. Patent landscape analysis reports on Korean pharmaceutical patents.
- PatentScope. Comparative reviews of similar chemical patent structures.
- [Authoritative legal commentary on Korean patent law and patentability criteria].
