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| (Source:Southco) |
U.S. company Southco successfully invalidated a patent held by South Korean company Lihaon, a manufacturer specializing in insert molding and etching components for automobiles and batteries.
In January, Southco filed a petition with the Korean Intellectual Property Tribunal (KIPT), challenging the validity of Claim 1 of Lihaon's patent titled "Push-type locking latch for a fuel tank cover" (No. 2349249). The KIPT ruled in favor of Southco in May, declaring the claim invalid.
Lihaon chose not to appeal the decision, resulting in the patent's final invalidation in July. The patent has now been officially terminated.
Lihaon filed for the patent in December 2019, and it was officially registered in January 2022. However, just 2 years and 6 months after its registration, the patent was invalidated, which is expected to disrupt Lihaon's related business operations. On the other hand, Southco’s swift action suggests they were well-prepared to challenge the patent.
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| (Source:KIPT) |
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