Lee & Ko’s IP Practice Group is highly experienced in protecting clients’ IP rights in all areas, including patent, trademark, copyright, trade secrets, unfair competition and domain names, among many others. Our IP Practice Group regularly handles IP cases in various dispute resolution venues, covering all procedural and substantive issues in infringement suits, invalidation actions, cancellation actions and scope confirmation trials, as well as various criminal law aspects of IP rights enforcement, customs seizures (customs proceedings), Trade Commission proceedings and Fair Trade Commission proceedings.

Lee & Ko’s Technical & Legal Expertise in IP Litigations

Lee & Ko’s IP Practice Group includes several IP litigators with very substantial technology-related backgrounds and skills, and many of them have academic degrees covering technical fields such as electric/electronic engineering, chemical science, pharmacology, genetics/microbiology, mechanical engineering, telecommunications, computer software, and semiconductors. This allows our attorneys to provide superior quality of service that stands out in comparison to typical IP service firms where IP matters are reviewed by patent attorneys separately from other relevant legal issues, which are reviewed by attorneys at law who have little or no familiarity with the technology and other technical aspects of the IP involved .

In addition to the extensive technical expertise of its members, the Group also includes former judges who have specialized in IP-related laws and cases while formerly serving with distinction in the Supreme Court, Patent Court, or Seoul High Court, as well as former examiners and administrative law judges who formerly worked at the Korean Intellectual Property Office. Having handled numerous landmark cases, our members have developed a well-deserved reputation for their exceptional professionalism, extensive experience and expertise.

Providing a Total Solution to Dispute Resolution by Cooperating with Other Practice Groups

Our IP Group professionals work closely with our White Collar Crime, Customs, International Trade, and Antitrust & Competition Practice Groups, to handle any criminal law issues that may be of concern to our clients in relation to such things as, rights enforcement, border enforcement matters, and abuses of IP rights.

Further, the Group often works closely with our lawyers in the Corporate Practice Group to assist clients in connection with M&A transactions, joint ventures, initial public offerings, and corporate finance.

Sharing of Tasks and Cooperation with Foreign Law Firms in Global Technical Disputes

Lee & Ko’s wide overseas network of contacts with highly reputable law firms in other countries allows the Group to provide counseling and representation to clients not only on domestic IP disputes, but also in relation to global and cross-border IP disputes, in cooperation with expert advisors in firms in places such as the U.S., Europe, China and Japan. In particular, to provide high-quality legal services in the most comprehensive, seamless and efficient manner possible, Lee & Ko also has assisted clients in handling/coordinating patent litigation in the U.S. Federal Courts, the ITC, the EU, Germany, Japan, and China by sharing litigation tasks with the overseas law firms.

Expertise

Technical Disputes Involving Patents and Utility Model Patents

Based on their keen and accurate understanding of both technical as well as legal issues, the attorneys in the IP Practice Group actively counsel clients regarding litigation strategies for technical disputes relating to patents or utility model patents, and are highly regarded for their effectiveness and success as litigators in court proceedings.

IP Transaction

Besides its well-earned reputation in IP litigation, Lee & Ko’s IP Practice Group is also highly regarded for providing effective consultations and practical solutions on all IP related transactions. The Group handles numerous patent, know-how, trademark, copyright licensing agreements, negotiations, and settlements.

Employee Inventions & Copyrights

Lee & Ko’s IP Practice Group not only provides expert advice on employment contracts and company policies related to employee inventions and copyrights, but also has represented many global companies in litigation related thereto.

Trademark, Design, Domain Name, and Unfair Competition

Our IP Practice Group lawyers provide litigation and counseling services involved in protection of our clients’ valuable brand-related assets, such as trademarks, designs, and trade dress. Our Group works vigorously to protect our clients from competitors’ counterfeiting of the shapes, appearances, colors, “look and feel,” etc. associated with of our clients’ products

Trade Secret Protection

Our IP Practice Group has extensive experience and expertise in the area of trade secret protection, including actions to prohibit transfers of employees. The group has successfully represented clients in several global trade secret misappropriation cases between global companies.

Copyright, Entertainment, and e-trade

Lee & Ko’s IP Practice Group provides a comprehensive range of services, including counseling and litigation services for writers, broadcasting stations, production companies, software companies, internet service providers, and e-trade companies in relation to procurement, transaction, registration, and protection of their copyrights in works of various kinds, including publications, music recordings, computer programs, and commercial advertisements, etc.

Cross-border Litigation

Lee & Ko’s IP Practice Group has represented clients in various overseas disputes in U.S., Europe, China and Japan. In particular, in connection with IP litigation proceedings in venues such as the U.S. Federal Circuit Courts, State Courts, and the ITC, our Group has achieved a level of experience and expertise that stands out in comparison with other law firms in Korea, including the handling of early-stage responses (litigation holds, document preservation, and custodian interviews, etc.), prior art searches, discovery-related works (document collection, document review, deposition preparation, and expert support, etc.), and various other types of litigation support.

READ MORE

Major Cases

Reconstruction and Redevelopment Projects

Banpo Hanyang Reconstruction Project
Jamwon Daelim Apartment Reconstruction Project
Ilsan New Town Project
Mapo-ro, Zone 1, District 53 Urban Environment Renovation Project
Dogok Hyundai Reconstruction Project
Jangwie New Town Project

Patent/Utility Model Patent

Computer Programs : represented leading global companies, SI companies, Web Portal companies and banks in connection with various types of software, weather warning system, network security system, commercial transaction system, transportation cards system, hardware control program, video encoder/decoder, user-interface, computer graphics, business method, chipsets, navigation products, etc.
Electrical Devices/Electronics : represented global companies in multinational disputes relating to such things as LCD products, plasma display, smartphones, portable terminals, wearable computers, various chipsets, touch screen, set-top box, printer cartridges, telecommunications repeater equipment, memory storage methods, interface devices, semiconductor devices (semiconductor polishing, semiconductor deposition, laser drilling technology, etc.), and fingerprint verification technologies
Chemical : handled numerous chemical patent disputes involving polyethylene, adhesives (circuit connecting adhesive, anisotropic conductive adhesive, Automative adhesive, transparent adhesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive), PI film, olefin polymerization catalyst technology, acetic acid manufacturing technology, aluminum alloy manufacturing technology, electrical steel manufacturing technology, impregnated polyurethane foam, vehicle fuel cell, solar battery, high energy lithium battery, battery separator, catalyst precursor, airbag, sunscreen, isomeric substance, inorganic phosphor, superabsorbent polymer, oxime-based photo initiator for display, deodorant, sorbent, absorbent, cosmetic components, fine glass, tire cords, herbicides, power plant fuel additives, semiconductor abrasives, and compound stabilizing antioxidant.
Pharmaceutical : represented leading global pharmaceutical companies in disputes involving such things as a blood-clot inhibitor, obesity-treatment drug, polyvalent vaccines, benign prostatic hyperplasia medication, contrast medium for CT, contraceptive, arthritis medication, anti-anxiety agent, eyewash composition, leukotriene receptor antagonist, anti-malignant tumor drug, allergy medication, PONV medication, PDE enzyme suppression/activation compound, hypertension/hyperlipidemia medication, overactive bladder medication, hepatitis drug, antidepressant, psychiatric medication, autoimmune disease medicine, immunosuppressant, erectile dysfunction medication, anti-cancer medication, asthma medication, leukemia medication, antigen-binding protein, Alzheimer’s disease medication, respiratory/digestive organ medication, multiple myeloma medication, coptis extracts, medium for biologics, insulin pen, crystalline medication and optical isomer medicine.
Mechanical : represented clients in numerous domestic and international lawsuits involving such items as semiconductor devices, LNG liquefaction/process, automobile fuel efficiency enhancing technology, process/supply of ship gas, display manufacturing equipment, directional electric steel, automobile conditioning compressor, automobile screen door, automobile components, a drillship, automated teller machines, washing machines, and agricultural machinery
Genetic Engineering : acted in connection with the first genetic engineering case in Korea related to bovine growth hormone, and international dispute related to stem cells, etc.
Business Methods : handled numerous business method patents
Construction Methods : handled a variety of patent matters related to production of a steel built-up girder involving the mixing of concrete and steel installed in between the piers of a bridge
Textiles : handled matters relating to such products as non-woven fabric, spandex fabric, and handled various litigation cases, including a diaper patent infringement case involving the largest damages claim amount in Korea

Trademark, Design, Domain Name and Unfair Competition

Represented Lacoste, JP Morgan Chase, GHD, Asics, Blue Diamond, Peanut Chew, Blue Cross, Jack Daniel’s, THOIP (Mr. Men & Little Miss), Olivia The Piglet, Lotto, Giordano, PRADA, M.A.C. (Estee Lauder), M&M’s Chocolate, Walt Disney, Manda Fermentation, LG Household & Health Care, LG Uplus, FIFA World Cup Logo, 7-Eleven, UEFA Champions League, and K2

Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets

A dispute between two global companies involving semiconductor chip technology
A dispute between two global companies involving a semiconductor device
OLED encapsulation technology
Rocket design technology
Mobile phone manufacturing technology
Mobile phone communications technology (LTE)
Computer terminal remote control technology
Unfair competition act related to a renowned mobile game
Leakage of electrical steel technology to China
Medical device technology
Set-top box
Optical lens
Goliath Crane manufacturing technology
Packaged power system
Display manufacturing technology
Audio amplifier
Forensic service
Lithium battery sensitizer manufacturing technology, laser printer toner, etc
Solar cell technology

Copyright

Music usage by Starbucks
Novels and lecture materials
Fonts
Renowned Internet/mobile game
Internet/mobile game co-development, publishing, character business
Computer program copyright
Copyrightability of a functional design drawing for subway video equipment (1st Supreme Court Decision)
Copyright, patent, trademark infringement case involving an e-commerce entity like online shopping mall
Successfully represented client in “Taewang Sashingi” copyright infringement case
Copyright dispute between airlines related to FOM(Flight Operation Manual)
Famous virtual internet game copyright infringement cases

Domain name dispute

Numerous domain name disputes

Franchise

Numerous franchises, including hotel, fast food, cafes, restaurants, and clothing