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| (Source: Yulchon Chemical) |
Korea's patent tribunal has partially revoked claims from two Yulchon Chemical patents covering pouch film technology for lithium-ion batteries, marking a rare setback for the company in a portfolio that has otherwise withstood numerous cancellation petitions.
The Korean Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board (KIPTAB) in June and July 2025 issued split decisions against KR2671819, directed to "Film for cell pouch with improved coating uniformity and long-term reliability," and KR2601726, covering "Pouch film for secondary battery with controlled thickness parameter according to solvent dry lamination or extrusion lamination." Both patents had petitions filed in 2024, within the six-month statutory window for Korean cancellation requests.
KIPTAB found parts of the challenges "established" while dismissing or rejecting others, meaning that only certain claims of each patent were canceled while the remainder stood.
Yulchon has faced more than a dozen cancellation attempts across its pouch film portfolio, with filings in 2023 and 2024 targeting patents including:
Laminates/Composite Films: KR2547075 (corrosion-resistant laminate), KR2675764 (laminated film manufacturing method)
Dimensional Stability/Stress Control: KR2601728
Gas-Release & Sealant Films: KR2626933
High-Temperature & Sealing Strength Films: KR2668914, KR2662513
Coating Uniformity & Reliability: KR2665240, KR2671819, KR2672312, KR2675023
Special Material Properties: KR2668915 (high Poisson’s ratio), KR2672122 (dielectric breakdown strength), KR2601726–2601727 (thickness-controlled lamination films)
Primer/Material Composition: KR2522216
Tribunal rulings on these patents, delivered throughout 2025, were either outright dismissals or partial dismissals/rejections — with no claims revoked. That record underscores Yulchon's relative success in fending off validity challenges, apart from the two recent scratches.
Under Korean law, any party — even without standing — may request cancellation of a newly issued patent within six months of registration. Competitors often file through individuals to mask their involvement. Cancellation outcomes are final and not appealable, though interested parties can later pursue full invalidation trials.
To date, no invalidation proceedings have been filed against Yulchon’s pouch film patents.
By PatenTrip
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