KIPRISPlus Terms and Conditions

Chapter 1. General Provisions

Article 1 (Purpose)
These Terms and Conditions (hereinafter, the “Terms”) are intended to set forth the rights, obligations, and responsibilities and the conditions and procedures for Service use between the Korea Institute of Patent Information (hereinafter, the “Institute”), entrusted by the Ministry of Intellectual Property to operate the Intellectual Property Information Utilization Service (KIPRISPlus), and users of such Services.

Article 2 (Definitions)
For the purposes of these Terms, the following definitions shall apply:
	1.	“User” means a Member or Non-Member who uses the Services provided by the Institute under these Terms.
	2.	“Member” means any person or entity who provides personal or organizational information, registers as a Member, and falls under one of the following categories:
		a. “Personal Member”: an individual who provides personal information to register as a Member and may continuously use the Services.
		b. “Organizational Member”: a sole proprietor, enterprise, corporation, or unincorporated association that provides organizational information to register as a Member and may continuously use the Services.
	3.	“Non-Member” means a person or an organization that uses the Services without registering as a Member.
	4.	“Service” means the services provided under the name “Intellectual Property Information Utilization Service” or “KIPRISPlus” including:
		a. “Member Services”: Services provided to registered Members, including:
			(1) “Paid Product Services”: Services provided to Members who paid a Usage Fee for such Services
			(2) “Free Product Services”: Services provided to Members without any usage fee
		b. “Non-Member Services”: Services that is provided to both Members and Non-Members
	5.	“ID” means a combination of letters and numbers set by a Member and approved by the Institute for identification and Service use.
	6.	“Password” means a combination of letters and numbers set by a Member to verify identity and protect confidentiality in connection with the assigned ID.
	7.	“Authentication Key” means a unique value individually assigned by the Institute to each Member to identify each Member as an authorized Service User.
	8.	“Service Information” means information provided within the Service.
	9.	“Post” means any writing, file, link, or other content Posted by a Member while using the Service.
	10.	“Usage Fee” means the amount paid by a Member for using Paid Product Services.
	11.	“Paid Product Services” are classified as follows:
		a. “Open API Paid Product”: a product enabling real-time data access and utilization pursuant to the usage methods specified on the website upon payment of the usage fee
		b. “Bulk Data Paid Product”: a product that allows downloading and usage of data for a specified period or unit, upon payment of the applicable usage fee in accordance with the usage methods specified on the website

Article 3 (Consent to the Terms)
Users may use the Services after indicating consent to these Terms and completing additional approval procedures as set forth below. The use agreement (hereinafter, the “Use Agreement”) shall be deemed concluded at the time when the Institute grants its approval.
	1.	For Members: indication of consent to these Terms at the time of Membership registration
	2.	For Non-Members: indication of consent to these Terms before viewing or downloading Service Information when using Non-Member Services

Article 4 (Posting and Amendment of the Terms)
	1.	The Institute shall Post these Terms on the Service website for Users’ review.
	2.	The Institute may amend these Terms within a reasonable scope without violating applicable laws, including the 「Personal Information Protection Act」, the 「Act on the Regulation of Terms and Conditions」, and the 「Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection」. When amending these Terms, the Institute shall notice the date, reasons, contents of the amendment, and effective date on the main screen of the Service website from at least seven (7) days prior to the effective date until the day immediately preceding the effective date. However, if the amendment is disadvantageous to Users or significantly affects their rights and obligations of the Users, the Institute shall notice and individually notify Users at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective date.
	3.	The amended Terms pursuant to Paragraph 2 shall take effect on the announced effective date.
	4.	If a User does not agree to the amended Terms, the User may explicitly express disagreement and cancel (withdraw) his/her/its Membership before the effective date. If it is impossible to partially apply the former Terms due to technical or policy reasons, the Institute may terminate the Use Agreement.
	5.	If the Institute properly announces the amendment and clearly informs Users that failure to object within the objection period will be deemed as consent to the said amendment, and the User does not express any objection, the User shall be deemed to have agreed to such amendment.
	6.	Termination of the Use Agreement pursuant to Paragraphs 4 or 5 shall be deemed to have occurred without fault by either party, and the settlement shall be governed by Article 24 Paragraph 1.
	7.	The Institute shall not be liable for any damage caused by a User’s failure to check the amendments despite proper notice and individual notification under Paragraph 2.

Article 5 (Matters Not Covered by the Terms)
Matters not specified in these Terms shall be governed by applicable laws, including the 「Personal Information Protection Act」, the 「Telecommunications Business Act」, the 「Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection」, the 「Electronic Signature Act」, the 「Act on Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce, the 「Framework Act on Electronic Documents and Electronic Transactions」, the 「Act on the Regulation of Terms and Conditions」, and the 「Civil Act」, as well as customary practices.
	
Chapter 2. Membership Registration and Application for Member Services

Article 6 (Membership Registration, Application for Member Services, and Approval)
	1.	A User may register as a Member by agreeing to these Terms, collection/use of personal information, and setting up an ID and Password in accordance with the procedures set by the Institute. During this procedure, the Institute may request identity verification through a professional institution.
	2.	Any Member wishing to use the Open API Service must obtain an Authentication Key in accordance with the procedures set by the Institute.
	3.	Any Member wishing to use Member Services must follow these steps:
		a.	Select the product (data) to be used
		b.	Enter the Service name, purpose of use, and request details
		c.	Express intent to apply (by clicking “Apply”)
		d.	Express intent to purchase (by clicking “Pay”)
	4.	The Institute may reject or defer approval of the application if:
		a.	There is a technical issue.
		b.	Service facility capacity is insufficient.
		c.	The Institute deems it necessary for other reasons.
	5.	Any Member may use Member Services upon approval by the Institute and may use Paid Product Services only after paying the applicable Usage Fees in accordance with these Terms.
	6.	Non-Members or Members who are not logged in may be restricted from applying for Member Services.

Article 7 (Changes to Information Provided at Registration or Application)
A Member may change information (except for ID and name) provided at the time of Membership registration or Service application. The Institute shall not be liable for disadvantages arising from failure to update said information or from errors in changed information.

Chapter 3. Provision and Use of Services

Article 8 (Provision of Services)
	1.	The Institute provides Member Services to approved Members in accordance with these Terms. Paid Product Services are provided only to Members who have prepaid the applicable Usage Fees for the specified period or under the specified conditions. The detailed usage methods of Paid Product Services (for example, download period) shall be as indicated on the website.
	2.	The Institute may provide Non-Member Services to Non-Members or to Members whose application has not been approved.
	3.	Unless special circumstances exist, Services shall in principle be available 24 hours a day, year-round.
	4.	The Institute may establish policies regarding Service provision, and Users must comply with such policies.

Article 9 (Suspension of Services)
	1.	The Institute may temporarily or permanently restrict or suspend all or part of the Services in any of the following cases:
		a.	Unavoidable circumstances due to maintenance, regular inspection, or construction of Service facilities
		b.	Suspension or failure of telecommunications Services by a telecommunications business operator under the 「Telecommunications Business Act」
		c.	Outbreak or threat of war, incident, natural disaster, or national emergency
		d.	Service disruption due to facility failure or traffic overload
		e.	Change in Service policies
		f.	Other reasonable grounds deemed necessary by the Institute
	2.	In such cases, the Institute shall give prior notice on the website of the reasons, duration, and scope of suspension. However, in urgent cases, notice may be given afterward and through the contact information provided by the Member.
	3.	If the suspension is permanent or exceeds the announced period, the Member may cancel (withdraw) his/her/its Membership. The effect shall be the same as in Article 4 Paragraph 6.

Article 10 (Responsibility for Service Use)
	1.	Users use the Service at their own risk and are responsible for any disadvantages arising from their selective use of the Service or data.
	2.	The Services are provided for informational purposes only and may contain errors or omissions. The Institute does not guarantee the quality or accuracy of the data provided.

Article 11 (Changes to Services)
	1.	The Institute may change all or part of the Services for operational or technical reasons, such as data addition, deletion, modification, or software updates.
	2.	Changes shall be announced on the Service website, and the procedures for notice and consent shall follow Article 4 regarding amendments to the Terms.
	3.	Notwithstanding Paragraph 2, software may be automatically updated immediately upon release of a new version or function without the User’s prior consent. However, if such update affects Users’ rights or obligations, the update will be carried out with separate consent from the User.

Article 12 (Use of Information and Posting of Advertisements)
	1.	The Institute may use User information (organization name, logo, applied or utilized products, etc.) for non-commercial promotional purposes in connection with Service dissemination and use. If the User objects, the Institute shall correct such use.
	2.	The Institute is not liable for any loss or damage that may arise from Users’ voluntary participation or transactions with third-party advertisements or promotions, unless caused by the Institute’s intent or gross negligence.

Article 13 (Detailed Operational Guidelines)
Detailed Service operation standards not provided herein may be changed according to Service policies, and specifics shall be separately announced on the Service website. In the event of conflict between these Terms and such standards, the separately agreed standards shall prevail.

Chapter 4. Paid Product Services and Usage Fees

Article 14 (Usage Fees)
	1.	The Institute determines Usage Fees in accordance with the 「Fees for Providing Industrial Property Information」 of the Ministry of Intellectual Property and may apply discounts depending on the Member’s type or the scope of Service that is provided.
	2.	A Usage Fee grants the right to use Paid Product Services with one ID only. If a Member uses multiple IDs, Usage Fees must be paid for each ID.

Article 15 (Payment of Usage Fees)
	1.	Usage Fees must be prepaid before the use of Paid Product Services, using one of the following methods. However, overseas Users may pay according to the payment method determined by the Institute.
		a.	Credit card payment
		b.	Bank transfer
		c.	Real-time account transfer
		d.	Other methods determined by the Institute
	2.	To extend Service use, Members must express intent to extend before the expiration date, pay the fee for the extension period, and obtain approval from the Institute. However, in principle, pre-payment or revolving payment of Usage Fees that do not apply to Service use in the current year is not permitted.
	3.	Usage Fees shall be paid by the Members directly. However, another party may pay the Usage Fees by submitting the required documentation and receiving prior approval from the Institute.

Article 16 (Objections to Usage Fees)
If a User has an objection to the payment of the Usage Fee, he/she/it may immediately file an objection via e-mail, telephone, or other means. The Institute shall review the objection, take the following actions, and then notify the objector:
	1.	Provide guidance for payment if failure to pay the Usage Fee was due to the Institute’s fault
	2.	If a User overpays or mispays fees, the Institute may refund or charge unpaid fees.

Chapter 5. Rights and Obligations

Article 17 (Rights to Service Information and Posts)
	1.	Copyright to Service Information remains with the Institute or the original rights holder and is not transferred to the User.
	2.	Copyright and other rights to Posts created by a Member belong to the said Member. However, the Institute may edit or process such Posts with the Member’s consent for the purpose of Service operation.

Article 18 (Obligations of the Institute)
	1.	The Institute shall endeavor to provide continuous and stable Services in accordance with these Terms and applicable laws.
	2.	The Institute shall not disclose or provide Users’ personal information to a third party without consent of the User, except when permitted by law for statistical, research, or public-interest purposes.
	3.	The Institute shall promptly address valid User complaints and notify Users of delays and schedules if processing is delayed.

Article 19 (Obligations of Users)
	1.	Users shall not engage in any of the following acts in connection with the use of the Service:
		a.	Acts of providing or reselling all or part of the original information obtained through the Service to a third party. However, legitimate use in accordance with copyright law is permitted.
		b.	Acts of using or providing all or part of the original information obtained through the Service to a third party for purposes other than the use of Service such as reproduction, performance, broadcasting, exhibition, distribution, publication, etc., through copying, processing, translation, creation of secondary works, etc. However, legitimate use in accordance with copyright law is permitted.
		c.	Acts of providing inaccurate or false information (including modifications) to the Institute
		d.	Acts of stealing another Member’s ID and Password or allowing a third party to use one’s own ID and Password
		e.	Acts that damage the reputation of others or cause them disadvantages
		f.	Acts of distributing content that violates public order or good morals
		g.	Acts deemed to be related to criminal activity
		h.	Acts of hacking or attempting to hack the Service
		i.	Acts of registering or distributing computer virus–infected materials that cause malfunction of Service-related facilities or destruction/confusion of information
		j.	Acts of transmitting information that may hinder the stable operation of the Service, or sending advertising information against the recipient’s will
		k.	Acts of interfering with the operation of the Service
		l.	Acts of abusing or misusing the Service through abnormal methods or causing Service failures through excessive use
		m.	Acts of transferring Authentication Keys to others or disclosing/sharing them externally
		n.	Acts of planning or executing activities that undermine national interest or public welfare
		o.	Other acts that violate relevant laws and regulations or interfere with the normal operation of the Service
	2.	Users must comply with laws, these Terms, and Institute’s guidelines.
	3.	Members must securely manage IDs/Passwords and report unauthorized use immediately.
	4.	Members must keep information accurate and updated.
	5.	Members may not transfer Service rights without prior consent.
	6.	If a User receives a request for correction of Service Information (including deletion or change; hereinafter the same), etc. provided by the Institute due to reasons such as the enactment or revision of relevant laws, policy changes, or administrative processing, the User must comply with the request without any delay.

Article 20 (Use and Management of Authentication Keys)
	1.	Members shall not provide, disclose, or share Authentication Keys with others.
	2.	The Institute may set validity periods when distributing Authentication Keys.
	3.	Members may only obtain one Authentication Key at a time. Violation of this paragraph may result in suspension of Authentication Key and Service or denial of future reissuance of Authentication Key.
	4.	Authentication Key information cannot be changed once submitted, except through deletion and reissuance under Institute’s approval.

Article 21 (Registration and Management of Posts)
	1.	Members must register accurate and correct Posts, and are responsible for the reliability and accuracy of the information or materials they Post
	2.	If the Institute determines that any Postings or materials (including communications between Members) submitted or registered by a Member within the Service fall under any of the following categories, the Institute may, after prior notice, restrict access, request modification, or delete such content. However, where required by applicable laws or in cases of urgency or other legitimate grounds, notice may be given afterward.
		a.	Content that defames or slanders another User or a third party, thereby damaging their reputation
		b.	Content that violates public order or good morals
		c.	Content deemed to be associated with criminal activity
		d.	Content that infringes upon the copyrights of the Institute, the copyrights of a third party, or other rights of others
		e.	Content that exceeds the separately designated Posting period
		f.	Content that repeatedly Posts identical or substantially similar material, thereby disrupting the normal operation of the Service
		g.	Any other content deemed to be in violation of applicable laws or the Institute’s relevant policies and guidelines 
	3.	If the Institute restricts access to or deletes a content pursuant to Paragraph 2, it shall notify the User who created such Posting of the said restriction through the registered contact information. The Member who created the Posting may raise an objection in accordance with the provisions of applicable laws, including the 「Copyright Act」 and the 「Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection」, etc. 
	4.	If a Member who has received the notice pursuant to Paragraph 3 files an objection within seven (7) days from the date of such notice by submitting relevant supporting materials, the Institute may review the submitted materials and determine whether to lift the access restriction and restore the Posting. 
	5.	If the Member who created the Posting does not file an objection within seven (7) days or fails to submit appropriate supporting materials when filing an objection, the Institute may permanently delete the Posting, and the responsibility therefore shall rest with the Member who created the Posting. 

Chapter 6. Termination, Restriction, or Suspension of Use

Article 22 (Termination by Member)
	1.	A Member may request termination of the Use Agreement by methods set by the Institute.
	2.	Upon receiving request for termination of the Use Agreement from a Member pursuant to Paragraph 1, the Institute must notify the Member of its intent to accept the termination unless there are special circumstances not to. However, if the Member violates his/her/its obligations under the law or these Terms, or if the Member violates any of the obligations or requirements to be complied by the Member, the Institute may not accept the requested termination.

Article 23 (Restriction, Suspension, or Termination by the Institute)
	1.	The Institute may temporarily or permanently restrict or suspend use of the Service if a Member violates laws or these Terms.
	2.	If the Institute temporarily or permanently restricts or suspends a Member's use of the Service, the Institute must notify the Member in advance of the reason and the details of the measures taken (type and duration of the measures). 
	3.	A Member who receives a notification under Paragraph 2 may file an objection within 30 days of the notification date, or within the temporary restriction period if applicable, by attaching supporting documentation through the channel designated by the Institute. The Institute shall review the submitted supporting documentation and, if it determines that the violation was not intentional or grossly negligent, did not infringe upon the rights of the Institution or any other third party, and did not cause any direct or indirect damage, the Service restriction or suspension shall be lifted. 
	4.	If a Member repeatedly violates laws or these Terms, intentionally or through gross negligence which causes damage to the Institute, the Institute may immediately terminate the Use Agreement and must immediately notify the Member of such termination. 
	5.	If a Member is deemed to have violated the obligations under these Terms including Article 19 Section 1, Article 20 Section 1, 3, Article 21 Section 2, the Institute may demand correction within a set period. Failure to comply with such demanded correction may lead to termination of the Use Agreement.

Article 24 (Effects of Termination and Refunds of Usage Fees)
	1.	If a Member cancels his/her/its Membership (or withdraws from Membership) or if either the Member or the Institute terminates the Use Agreement in accordance with these Terms, the Institute shall refund Usage Fees to such Member using paid Services as set forth below. In such cases, for discounted products the refund amount shall be calculated based on the final actual payment amount after discounts:
		a.	Open API Paid Services: Refund shall be made on a pro-rata basis corresponding to the remaining period as of the Service termination date. 
		b.	Bulk Data Paid Services: Refunds shall be made only for products applied for within the applicable year, provided there is no download history.
	2.	If the Member’s application for a paid Service has been approved and the Member has prepaid the Usage Fees but has not used the Service, the Member may withdraw the application and the prepayment within seven (7) days from the date of approval of the application. In such cases, the Institute shall refund the full amount of the prepaid Usage Fees. 

Article 25 (Deletion of Member Information)
	1.	For Members who have remained inactive (Members with no login history) for two (2) years or longer, the Institute may delete the Member’s personal or organizational information after prior notice or notification 
	2.	When deleting a Member’s information, all personal data of the Member shall be immediately deleted, except where retention is required under applicable laws.

Chapter 7. Damages and Miscellaneous

Article 26 (Damages)
	1.	The Institute shall be liable for damages if it fails to provide the Services as stipulated in these Terms due to reasons attributable to the Institute. However, the Institute shall not be liable for damages to Users who used the Services free of charge. 
	2.	If a User causes damage to the Institute by violating applicable laws or these Terms, the User shall be liable to compensate the Institute.
	3.	Claims for damages between the Institute and Users shall be made in writing, specifying the grounds for the claim, the claimed amount, and the calculation basis.

Article 27 (Disclaimer)
	1.	The Institute shall not be liable for damages suffered by Users arising from any of the following reasons, provided however, that the Institute shall be liable in cases of willful misconduct or gross negligence on its part:
		a.	Where damages are caused by the User’s willful misconduct or negligence
		b.	In cases of partial Service disruptions, not a complete Service suspension
		c.	Where Service provision is impossible due to unavoidable reasons inherent in telecommunication Services
		d.	Where Service provision is suspended, restricted, or discontinued in accordance with the reasons and procedures set forth in these Terms 
	2.	The Institute shall not be liable for Users’ failure to obtain the expected benefits from the use of the Service.
	3.	The Institute shall not be liable for damages caused by the User’s failure to review these Terms, guidelines, or notices, or by the User’s failure to comply with the Service conditions or applicable laws.
	4.	The Institute shall not be liable for results or damages incurred by reliance on Postings or other content within the Service.

Article 28 (Jurisdiction and Governing Law)
	1.	Any litigation arising from disputes between the Institute and the Users in connection with the use of the Service shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the district court having jurisdiction over the address of the User in Korea at the time of filing, or, if there is no such address, the User’s place of residence. If the User’s address or residence is unclear at the time of filing, or if the User resides abroad, jurisdiction shall be determined in accordance with the 「Civil Procedure Act」 of Korea.
	2.	The laws of the Republic of Korea shall govern any lawsuits filed between the Institute and Users.
	3.	In the event of any inconsistency between the Korean version and the English version of these Terms, the Korean version shall prevail.

Supplementary Provisions
	1.	These Terms shall take effect from October 1, 2025.
	2.	The previous Terms, which took effect on May 7, 2021, shall be replaced by these Terms.
		* The copyright of these Terms belongs to the Korea Institute of Patent Information, and any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or transmission shall constitute an infringement of copyright and is strictly prohibited.