The Korean government has passed the Invention Promotion Act which provides for alternative dispute resolution in intellectual property cases. Under the Act an Industrial Dispute Mediation Committee was created in January 1995 which consists of up to 20 members named by the Commissioner of the Korean Industrial Property Office (KIPO) and is chaired by the Deputy Commissioner of the KIPO. A petition for mediation can be filed with the Committee by the owners of industrial property rights, licensors, employee-inventors, and any person having a direct interest in the working of an intellectual property right.

This is an important new procedure whereby industrial property disputes can be resolved in Korea in a speedy and inexpensive manner.