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| (Source: DNP) |
Japanese Dai Nippon Printing (DNP) has hit another roadblock in Korea, as the country's patent tribunal rejected the company's attempt to register its decorative material technology.
On March 25, 2025, the Korean Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board (IPTAB) upheld an earlier decision by the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) denying patent protection for DNP's "Decorative Material" under Application No. KR1020217025688.
DNP had appealed to the IPTAB after KIPO rejected the application, but the board ultimately sided with the patent office, dismissing the appeal. DNP still has the option to challenge the IPTAB's ruling before the Daejeon-based Patent Court.
DNP said the technology offers enhanced slip resistance even when wet, thanks to a specific surface roughness and irregular texture, while also maintaining a high level of aesthetic appeal. According to the company, the invention can be applied to a wide range of surfaces, including flooring, outdoor pavements, terrace materials, commercial and large-scale facilities, architectural interior and exterior finishes, as well as automotive parts and transportation infrastructure.
A similar rejection occurred just weeks earlier. In February 2025, the IPTAB also denied DNP's appeal concerning its "Decorative Sheet and Decorative Laminate" technology, filed under Application No. KR1020217032147. That appeal followed a rejection by KIPO, which DNP had contested in January.
However, the nature of the rejected invention in the February decision differs significantly. That technology centers on flame retardancy achieved through chemical composition. The invention features a multilayer structure comprising a transparent resin layer, a base sheet, and at least one thermoplastic resin layer. According to the patent specification, the technology is suited for applications where heat resistance and flame retardancy are critical—such as electronic components, architectural interior materials, and automotive interior parts.
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