Korean design law changes

The Korean design system has been revised, supposedly in the light of the credit crunch (though we fear that the design system alone cannot drive the world back into growth). Changes include

• Request for re-examination, as a cheaper alternative to filing an appeal, in the face of rejection;
• Cheaper late payment fines on renewals.

These appear to have kicked in on 1st July 2009, according to Nayoung Kim of Kim & Chang writing in the International Law Office Intellectual Property newsletter.

Oh, and any Patent Office staff who spill the beans can be sent to chokey for up to 5 years. If you are both curious as to the Korean jail experience and deeply unshockable, here's a link to a Midnight Express-style memoir of same - otherwise, not recommended reading. At that level of deterrence, your design filing is probably safe in their hands.