IP News


Introduction of "Intellectual Property Information Management System" by the Korea Customs Service
The Korea Customs Service (hereinafter called "KCS") has recently developed the Intellectual Property 
Information Management System (hereinafter called "IPIMS") for automatic identification of counterfeit 
goods in order to prevent effectively the domestic inflow of counterfeit goods in the customs clearance 
procedure and has operated IPIMS since May 4, 2009. 

IPIMS is a comprehensive information management system designed to identify and manage 
counterfeits effectively by sharing the relevant information between the trademark owner or copyright 
owner and the Customs on a real time basis. 

If the trademark owner or copyright owner uses IPIMS through the customs portal system of the KCS 
(http://portal.customs.go.kr)
when goods or works suspected to be counterfeit are imported, they will be 
informed of the fact through an SMS and e-mail from KCS. 

Next, the trademark owner or copyright owner accesses IPIMS to check the pictures of the imported 
goods uploaded by KCS, judge genuineness of the goods and register the results on IPIMS. 

In the past, KCS sent the counterfeit information to the trademark owner or copyright owner through 
usual mail, which took considerable time. The newly developed IPIMS will be able to promptly identify 
counterfeit goods and build a database with information on the judgment of counterfeit goods.