The Korean Intellectual Property Office announced that South Korea has achieved the world’s number one position in the number of registered patents related to the next-generation display technology “MicroLED.” This news reaffirms the importance of technological innovation and intellectual property rights, and I find it very intriguing.
Current State of South Korean MicroLED Patents
According to the analysis by the Korean Intellectual Property Office, over the past ten years, South Korea has obtained 1,567 MicroLED-related patents, accounting for 23.2% of the global total. Following South Korea are Japan (1,360 patents), China (1,217 patents), the United States (1,080 patents), and the EU (750 patents). By company, South Korea’s LG Innotek leads with 404 patents, followed by Samsung Electronics with 384 patents, Japan’s Semiconductor Energy Laboratory (SEL) with 315 patents, Samsung Display with 240 patents, and China’s BOE Technology Group with 223 patents.
South Korea’s Strengths and Future Challenges
The background behind South Korea’s top position in this field includes sustained investment in research and development and advanced technological capabilities. Particularly, with LG Innotek and Samsung Electronics leading the way, many innovative technologies have been created. However, competition is expected to intensify in the future, and further strengthening of patent strategies will be required.
Japan’s Position and Strategy
Japan maintains the second position in the number of MicroLED patents, but the gap with South Korea is not significant. Japanese companies need to continue focusing on technology development and increasing patent applications to maintain their competitiveness. Additionally, it is crucial for Japanese companies to expand the scope of patent utilization through international collaboration and licensing strategies.
Considerations
This news reaffirms that the number of patents serves as an indicator of technological competitiveness. Especially in emerging technology fields, the speed and quality of patent applications influence the competitiveness of companies. It is essential to propose swift and accurate patent strategies to clients. Additionally, preventive measures to avoid patent disputes and support for international patent applications are important.
South Korea’s achievement of the world’s number one position serves as an incentive for other countries, and further technological innovations are expected. We also aim to continue conveying the importance of intellectual property rights and providing strategic support to help our clients succeed.
Please share your opinions or questions about the rise of South Korean MicroLED patents. We look forward to your engagement.
