Gyeonggi Province Supports Up to 20 Million Won in Litigation Costs for SMEs Suffering Technology Theft and Leaks

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hoon] Gyeonggi Province will provide support of up to 20 million won to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have suffered damages from technology theft or leaks and are engaged in intellectual property litigation procedures, including patent trials and lawsuits.

Applicants must be SMEs headquartered in Gyeonggi Province that are currently engaged in or are scheduled to engage in intellectual property disputes within the year.

Support types include ▲5 million won for intellectual property invalidity trials ▲4 million won for cancellation trials ▲5 million won for scope of rights confirmation trials ▲7 million won for intellectual property (including trade secrets) lawsuits/preliminary injunctions and related criminal lawsuits involving technology leaks. Multiple cases can be supported within a limit of 20 million won.

According to a 'Survey on SME Technology Protection Status,' the patent trial loss rate reaches 84.6%. The high loss rate for SMEs in intellectual property disputes is attributed to a lack of personnel and funding capable of handling trials and lawsuits.

Since the second half of last year, Gyeonggi Province has been operating the Gyeonggi Technology Protection Desk to support SMEs suffering from technology leaks or theft or facing difficulties due to intellectual property disputes.

As a consultation service where SMEs can freely receive consultation on intellectual property-related disputes and difficulties, it was previously operated at the Gyeonggi Intellectual Property Center within Gyeonggi Techno Park located in Ansan, but starting this year, it has been relocated to the Gyeonggi Creative Economy Innovation Center in Pangyo Techno Valley in Seongnam, where a dedicated patent attorney resides to provide consultation.

Expert consultation is available for various cases of damages, such as when large corporations use technologies held by SMEs without permission, or when employees leaving the company conduct similar businesses using company trade secrets.

When additional support is needed after consultation at the Technology Protection Desk, in-depth patent attorney consultation is provided, and intellectual property trial and litigation costs are supported to enable more professional and strategic response.

The Director of the Science and Technology Division of Gyeonggi Province stated, "Many SMEs give up lawsuits because they lack funds," adding "Through step-by-step support from initial consultation to litigation, we will actively support SMEs in addressing technology infringement."

Details can be found on the websites of Gyeonggi Province (www.gg.go.kr) or Gyeonggi Techno Park Foundation (www.gtp.or.kr). For inquiries, contact the Gyeonggi Technology Protection Desk at (031-776-4891).