Trademark Renewal Management
Trademark Renewal · Guide

Once every 10 years. Renew only the classes you still use.

From a single registration number to class-by-class selective renewal, instalment payments, and grace-period recovery — our patent attorneys have organised the five-stage flow, the information you need, the cautions, and the schedule.

Workflow

From a registration number to automated 10-year tracking.

All we need from you is the registration number. iphere handles every other step automatically, and our attorneys verify each renewal filing.

  1. 01About 1 minute (single trademark)

    Register the trademark — just the registration number

    Enter your Korean trademark registration number and iphere automatically fills in the name, mark image, right holder, designated classes, expiration date, and estimated renewal fee. Bulk register dozens with a single Excel sheet.

    • Registration number input (hyphens optional)
    • Excel bulk register — fill one column only
    • Mark image auto-download
    • Designated classes (NICE classification) auto-fetched
    • Current renewal cycle (Cycle 1 · 2 · 3 …) auto-identified
    What you do

    Enter a registration number or upload an Excel file. No separate right-holder input needed — auto-fetched from KIPO.

    What iphere handles

    Auto-fetch trademark name, mark image, NICE classes, right holder, registration date, expiration date, current cycle, and estimated fee.

  2. 024 reminders per 10-year cycle, automatic

    Automatic reminders — 4 stages over the 10-year cycle

    Registered trademarks appear in the managed list at a glance, and iphere sends automatic email reminders at every key point. We mark the 10-year deadline four times so you don't have to.

    • 1 year before expiration: first email — renewal window opens
    • 6 months before expiration: second email + red dashboard banner
    • 3 months before expiration: third email — final recommended cutoff
    • After expiration (6-month grace): weekly alerts (surcharge shown)
    • On completion: Cycle N+1 auto-configured + next 10-year tracking starts
    What you do

    Just watch your inbox. Dashboard banners also surface upcoming deadlines. No other action needed.

    What iphere handles

    Auto emails at 1 year · 6 months · 3 months before expiration. Weekly alerts throughout the 6-month grace period to safeguard the final window.

  3. 03About 3 minutes

    Selective renewal + checkout

    Click [Renew] on the managed list and the renewal application is drafted automatically. You can select which classes to renew (drop unused ones to cut cost), and split the KIPO fee into two instalments.

    • Concierge fee: single ₩50,000 / 5+ ₩40,000 / 20+ ₩30,000 per case
    • KIPO normal fee: ₩300,000 per class (₩330,000 if late)
    • Goods surcharge: 10+ goods per class × ₩2,000 each
    • Local registration tax: ₩9,120 per case (one-off)
    • Instalment available: 50% first → 50% second (KIPO fee only)
    What you do

    Pick classes to renew (only those in use or worth protecting), decide on instalment option, choose payment method, and check out.

    What iphere handles

    Auto-draft renewal application, compute surcharge for goods over the threshold and local registration tax, split instalments (50%+50%), prepare KIPO submission upon payment.

  4. 043–5 business days after checkout

    Renewal filing + certificate issuance

    On checkout, our patent attorneys do a final review and submit the renewal application to KIPO. On acceptance, the renewal certificate and PDF receipt are auto-issued by email.

    • Final attorney review of the renewal application
    • KIPO e-filing (within statutory deadline)
    • Auto-issue renewal certificate + send by email
    • Auto-issue PDF receipt + log to managed list
    • Tax invoice split issuance option (Concierge fee portion only)
    What you do

    Confirm the renewal certificate and receipt by email. If you need a tax invoice, select the split issuance option on checkout.

    What iphere handles

    Final attorney review → KIPO e-filing → acceptance confirmation → auto-issue renewal certificate + PDF receipt + update payment history.

  5. 0510-year cycles × repeat (theoretically unlimited)

    Long-term management — repeat cycles, keep forever

    On renewal, the next 10-year cycle is configured automatically. As long as renewals continue, the right is maintained indefinitely. Right-holder changes and class drops also auto-reflect.

    • Auto-configure next 10-year cycle (expiration + 10y)
    • Auto-reflect right-holder changes / transfers
    • Auto-count cycles (Cycle 1 · 2 · 3 …)
    • Guidance provided when use evidence is requested
    • Renewal history · certificates · receipts downloadable anytime from the managed list
    What you do

    Decision points only every 10 years — choose right-holder updates, classes to drop. No yearly repeat work.

    What iphere handles

    Auto-configure the next 10-year cycle, reflect right-holder transfers, guide you when use evidence is requested. Full renewal history accessible from the managed list anytime.

Information needed

One registration number. KIPO fills in the rest.

Trademark renewal management requires no additional documents. The registration number is enough — everything else fills in automatically. If the right holder has changed, just complete the transfer registration first.

Required

KIPO registration number

Format
40-XXXXXXX (trademark) · 41-XXXXXXX (service mark) etc.
Note
Hyphens optional. The registration number alone auto-fetches name, mark image, classes, expiration date, estimated fee, and renewal history.
Auto

Right holder information

Format
Auto-fetched from KIPO
Note
Right holder name and address fill in automatically. If the right holder has changed, complete the transfer registration with KIPO first — otherwise the renewal filing may be rejected.
Required

Class selection for renewal

Format
Checkbox selection (from your designated classes)
Note
Among the classes you originally designated, renew only those in active use or worth protecting. Dropping unused classes reduces the renewal fee by the number of classes saved.
Optional

Excel bulk register sheet

Format
XLSX (one column of registration numbers)
Note
For managing 5+ trademarks at once. Download the iphere template, fill in the registration numbers, and upload.
Required

Payment method

Format
Card · simple pay · virtual account
Note
Payment is only collected when a renewal cycle approaches. Registration itself is free; reminders and fee estimates run in the background regardless.
Auto

Renewal certificate + PDF receipt

Format
PDF — auto-issued by iphere
Note
Auto-issued upon acceptance, sent by email, and logged to the managed list. Tax invoices are available via the split issuance option on checkout.
Cautions

Miss it once, you have to refile from scratch.

Here are the four points our patent attorneys emphasise most about trademark renewal. iphere's 4-stage reminders shield you from them — still, knowing these helps.

Critical

The 6-month grace period is the last chance. No recovery after.

Even after expiration, you can renew within a 6-month grace period by paying a surcharge (+₩30,000 per class). After 6 months, the right is fully extinguished — you would have to refile from scratch, and someone else could register the same mark in the meantime. iphere sends weekly alerts throughout the grace period.

Critical

Complete transfer registration before renewal.

If the right holder has changed (corporate merger, individual transfer, etc.), the transfer must be registered with KIPO before you can renew under the new name. Without it, the renewal filing may be rejected. iphere can handle the transfer registration too.

Warning

Dropped classes are gone for good.

Classes you drop at renewal are permanently removed from your trademark's scope. Reclaiming them would require a fresh application. The cost saving is clear, but if you might enter that class in the future, think twice. We recommend an attorney consultation if you're unsure which classes to drop.

FYI

Renewal can start 1 year before expiration.

Renewal applications can be filed at the normal fee starting 1 year before expiration. Filing early doesn't shorten your right — the new term simply begins the day after expiration. iphere sends the first reminder 1 year ahead, and checkout / filing are both available from that point.

Key dates

10-year cycle — until the next one begins.

10 years from registration is one cycle. Renewal filings open 1 year before expiration, and the 6-month grace period is the last chance to recover.

  1. Cycle start + 0

    Registration — cycle begins

    The 10-year cycle begins at the setup registration. Enter the registration number into iphere at this point to start automatic tracking from 1 year before expiration.

  2. Cycle + 9 years

    1 year before expiration — renewal window opens (1st reminder)

    Renewal filings become possible at the normal fee (₩300,000 per class) 1 year before expiration. iphere sends the first automatic reminder; checkout and filing are both available from this point.

  3. Cycle + 9.5y / + 9.75y

    6 months / 3 months before expiration — 2nd · 3rd reminders

    Second reminder + red dashboard banner at 6 months out; third reminder at 3 months out. Completing the filing in this window is the safest option.

  4. Cycle + 10y ~ + 10.5y

    6-month grace period — last chance with +10% surcharge

    Even after expiration, you can renew within 6 months at a surcharge (₩330,000 per class). iphere sends weekly alerts throughout. After 6 months, the right is fully extinguished.

  5. Cycle + 10y

    Renewal complete — Cycle 2 / ∞ begins

    On renewal, the next 10-year cycle is automatically configured. The cycle count steps from 1 → 2 → … and continued renewals preserve the right indefinitely.