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| (Source: POSCO Future M) |
POSCO Holdings has failed to secure a Korean patent for its cathode material firing apparatus used in secondary battery production, following a rejection by the Korean Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board (KIPTAB).
In a decision dated May 23, 2025, KIPTAB dismissed a patent appeal filed by POSCO Holdings, the Pohang Institute of Industrial Science and Technology (RIST), and POSCO Future M. The appeal sought to overturn an earlier rejection by the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) of their joint application for a patent titled "Apparatus for Firing Cathode Material of Secondary Battery" (Application No. KR10-2021-0176506).
The firing process—central to the disputed invention—involves heating precursor materials at high temperatures to induce chemical and physical transformations, ultimately crystallizing them into usable cathode materials. In the secondary battery industry, this heat treatment typically exceeds several hundred degrees Celsius and can last for multiple hours, aiming to achieve the desired crystal structure and electrochemical performance.
After KIPO initially refused registration, POSCO and its affiliates submitted a rejection appeal to KIPTAB in March 2025. With KIPTAB now affirming the rejection, the applicants retain the option to challenge the ruling through a cancellation lawsuit at the Patent Court of Korea. The appeal was represented by Mutual Patent & Law Firm.
As of May 24, 2025, POSCO Holdings has filed a total of 13 Korean patent applications—individually or jointly—with “cathode firing” in the title. Of these, 7 have been registered, 5 are still pending publication, and the patent in this case remains denied.
By PatenTrip
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