Today Newspaper has published IPLEX patent attorney Yongduck Kim's column on AI patents.
Yongduck Kim, a patent attorney, focuses on patents in cutting-edge technology fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), smart factories, and blockchain, and has experience performing intellectual property (IP) work for various technology companies such as Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, and Xiaomi. In addition, he has written books such as “AI Patent Examination Practice Guide” and “AI Patent Strategy” and continues to share his expert knowledge on AI technology and patent strategy.
The column, 'AI Patents: Turning Technology into Rights,' examines how AI research is becoming part of businesses' IP strategies. As research moves from papers into commercial products, technical competition increasingly involves the ability to define and secure patent protection.
In particular, the column emphasizes that AI technology development and patent rights are entirely different issues. It is not enough to simply create a high-performance model, but it is possible to be recognized as a patent by describing the entire flow of technology, such as data preprocessing, model structure, learning method, and resulting process. It is also important to note that even if AI is called a ‘black box’, patent should be able to explain it in detail, and that it is difficult to recognize inventive steps simply by applying AI to existing technologies.
This column emphasizes that the competition in the AI era is expanding beyond the technology itself into the competition for “design, structure and explanation”. While the technology is completed by implementation, the patent points to the need for developers and companies to consider rights from the technology development stage. Furthermore, it suggests that in order for AI to function beyond simple tools as a strategic asset, the question of how to structure and protect technology is essential.
The full article can be found at the link below.
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