📋 Korean Law Insight | IP Law
By Attorney NOH UJIN | HANBYOL LAW LLC, Seoul
Technology Transfer and Licensing Agreements Under Korean Law
South Korea is one of the world's leading technology-driven economies, home to global giants in semiconductors, electronics, shipbuilding, automotive manufacturing, and biopharmaceuticals. As a result, technology transfer and licensing agreements — contracts under which one party grants another the right to use intellectual property (IP) such as patents, trade secrets, know-how, or copyrighted software — are among the most commercially significant agreements entered into by foreign businesses operating in or with Korea.
Korean law governs these transactions through a complex web of legislation spanning IP law, competition law, tax law, and foreign exchange law. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the legal framework applicable to technology transfer and licensing under Korean law, focusing on issues of particular relevance to foreign technology owners and licensees.
1. Key Statutes Governing Technology Transfer and Licensing
There is no single codified statute governing technology licensing in Korea. Instead, the legal framework comprises several overlapping laws:
- Patent Act (특허법) — Governs the licensing of patents (Article 99 for transfer; Articles 100–102 for licensing).
- Utility Model Act (실용신안법) — Applies to utility model rights with similar licensing provisions.
- Copyright Act (저작권법) — Governs licensing of software, databases, and other copyrighted works.
- Trade Secret Protection Act / Unfair Competition Prevention Act (부정경쟁방지 및 영업비밀보호에 관한 법률) — Governs the protection and licensing of trade secrets and know-how.
- Technology Transfer and Commercialisation Promotion Act (기술의 이전 및 사업화 촉진에 관한 법률) — Framework legislation promoting technology commercialisation, relevant for government-funded research technology.
- Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act (독점규제 및 공정거래에 관한 법률) — The KFTC enforces restrictions on anticompetitive licensing conditions.
- Foreign Exchange Transactions Act (외국환거래법) — Governs royalty payments to foreign licensors, including reporting requirements.
- Corporate Tax Act (법인세법) and Income Tax Act (소득세법) — Tax implications of royalty payments, including withholding tax obligations.
2. Types of Technology Licenses
Under Korean patent law, three basic types of licenses are recognised:
- Exclusive License (전용실시권) — The licensee has the exclusive right to use the patented invention to the exclusion of all others, including the licensor. An exclusive license must be registered at the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) to have legal effect against third parties.
- Non-exclusive License (통상실시권) — The licensor retains the right to grant further licenses to other parties. Non-exclusive licenses do not require registration (though registration is possible and provides notice to third parties).
- Sub-license — A licensee may sub-license rights to third parties only if expressly authorised by the licensor in the original license agreement. Sub-licensing without authorisation constitutes infringement of the licensor's rights.
3. Essential Clauses in Korean Technology License Agreements
A well-drafted technology license agreement under Korean law should address the following:
3.1 Scope of License
The license grant clause should precisely define: (a) the licensed technology (by patent number, product description, or technical specification); (b) the territory (Korea only, or global); (c) the field of use (particular industry or application); and (d) the exclusivity status. Korean courts interpret license grant clauses strictly — a court will not imply rights not expressly granted.
3.2 Royalty Structure
Korean agreements commonly use: (a) running royalties calculated as a percentage of net sales; (b) lump-sum payments; (c) minimum guaranteed royalties; or (d) hybrid structures. Royalty rates must be commercially reasonable — the KFTC has issued guidelines on unfair licensing conditions, and excessive royalty demands by dominant IP holders can constitute an abuse of market position.
3.3 Improvement Clauses (Grant-Back)
A grant-back clause requires the licensee to license back to the licensor any improvements made to the original technology. Korean competition law closely scrutinises mandatory exclusive grant-back clauses, as they can have anticompetitive effects by discouraging licensee innovation. Non-exclusive grant-back clauses are generally permissible. The KFTC has specifically identified mandatory exclusive grant-back provisions as potentially constituting an abuse of IP rights.
3.4 Confidentiality and Trade Secret Protection
Korea's Unfair Competition Prevention Act provides strong criminal and civil remedies for trade secret misappropriation, including up to 15 years' imprisonment and significant fines. License agreements should define what constitutes a trade secret, specify handling obligations, and provide for remedies in case of breach. Courts have held that even after a license terminates, continuing confidentiality obligations are enforceable.
3.5 Term and Termination
License agreements should specify the term and grounds for termination. Korean courts have generally respected contractual termination rights, but where a licensee has made substantial investments in reliance on the license, courts may apply equitable principles to limit abrupt termination without adequate notice. A six-month notice period before termination is commonly considered reasonable in Korean practice.
3.6 Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
Parties to technology license agreements may choose Korean law or foreign law as the governing law (subject to Korean public policy/mandatory law exceptions). For disputes, international arbitration — particularly before KCAB or ICC — is increasingly preferred over Korean court litigation for cross-border technology agreements, as arbitral awards are more readily enforceable internationally.
4. Regulatory Requirements for Technology Licensing
4.1 Foreign Exchange Reporting
Royalty payments from a Korean resident to a foreign licensor are subject to the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act. Companies making royalty payments abroad must report these through their designated foreign exchange bank. Payments exceeding USD 50,000 per transaction (or as otherwise specified) may require additional reporting. Failure to report can result in administrative penalties.
4.2 Withholding Tax on Royalties
Royalty payments made by a Korean company to a foreign licensor are subject to Korean withholding tax at a rate of 20% (22% including local income surtax) of the gross royalty amount, unless reduced by an applicable tax treaty. Korea has tax treaties with over 90 countries — many reduce the withholding rate on royalties to 0–15%. The Korean company (as the payer) is responsible for withholding and remitting the tax to the National Tax Service.
4.3 KFTC Review of Licensing Conditions
The Korea Fair Trade Commission (공정거래위원회, KFTC) has issued Guidelines on Reviewing Unfair Exercise of Intellectual Property Rights that identify licensing conditions that may violate the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act. Practices scrutinised include: tying arrangements, exclusive dealing requirements, resale price maintenance, territorial restrictions, patent pools with market division effects, and — as noted above — exclusive grant-back requirements. Foreign licensors with significant market power in Korea should have their standard license agreements reviewed against KFTC guidelines before deployment.
5. Government-Funded Technology: Special Rules
Korean universities, government research institutes (GRIs), and public entities that receive government funding for R&D are subject to mandatory technology transfer obligations under the Technology Transfer and Commercialisation Promotion Act. Foreign entities seeking to license government-funded Korean technologies must be aware that: (a) the government may retain certain non-exclusive use rights; (b) there may be restrictions on licensing the technology to foreign entities for overseas manufacture; and (c) certain national security technologies require prior government approval before transfer to foreign parties.
6. Cross-Border Technology Transfer: Strategic Considerations
Foreign companies licensing technology into Korea should consider:
- IP registration — Ensure Korean patent/trademark registrations are in place before licensing. Korean IP rights are territorial; foreign rights do not automatically protect you in Korea.
- Customisation for Korean market — Korean licensees may request modifications to standard global license terms. Understand which provisions are non-negotiable and which can be adapted.
- Anti-circumvention measures — Include technical protection measures and audit rights in software and know-how agreements.
- Arbitration clause — A well-drafted KCAB or ICC arbitration clause provides a neutral, internationally enforceable dispute resolution mechanism.
- Technology escrow — For licensees, consider requiring source code escrow arrangements for critical software.
7. Recent Developments
In 2024, Korea amended the Patent Act to clarify the compulsory licensing provisions applicable when a patent holder refuses to license on reasonable terms to parties seeking to work the patent in the national interest. While compulsory licenses remain rare in practice, the amendments signal legislative intent to balance IP protection with technology access. Additionally, the KFTC has been increasingly active in scrutinising licensing practices in the semiconductor and standard-essential patent (SEP) space, following high-profile investigations into major technology companies.
📌 Official References
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Does a technology license agreement need to be registered in Korea to be valid?
Not necessarily. A non-exclusive patent license (통상실시권) is valid between the parties without registration, but registration is required to make the license effective against third parties (e.g., a subsequent transferee of the patent). An exclusive patent license (전용실시권), however, must be registered at KIPO to have any legal effect at all, including against the licensor. Software and trade secret licenses do not require registration for validity.
Q2: What withholding tax rate applies to royalties paid to a foreign licensor?
The standard withholding tax rate on royalties paid to foreign licensors is 20% (plus 2% local income surtax = 22% effective rate) of gross royalties. This rate is reduced by applicable tax treaties — for example, the Korea-US treaty reduces the rate to 15% for most royalties, and some treaties provide for 0–10% rates. The Korean payer is responsible for withholding and filing the tax return.
Q3: Can a foreign licensor terminate a Korean license agreement if the licensee stops paying royalties?
Yes, breach of payment obligations is generally a ground for termination. However, Korean contract law requires the non-breaching party to first give formal notice of breach and allow a reasonable cure period (typically 30 days in commercial contracts) before terminating. Courts have occasionally declined to enforce abrupt terminations where the licensee had made substantial investments in reliance on the continued license. Proper contractual termination provisions with clearly specified notice and cure periods are essential.
Q4: Are non-compete clauses in technology license agreements enforceable in Korea?
Non-compete restrictions in license agreements are generally enforceable if they are (a) reasonable in scope and duration, (b) limited to the relevant technology field, and (c) not disproportionate to the legitimate interests being protected. The KFTC may scrutinise overly broad non-compete clauses as potentially anticompetitive under the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act, particularly where the licensor holds market power.
Q5: How are trade secrets protected when shared with a Korean licensee?
The Unfair Competition Prevention Act provides robust protection: criminal penalties of up to 15 years' imprisonment and fines of up to KRW 1.5 billion for misappropriation of trade secrets. Civil remedies include injunctions, damages, and disgorgement of profits. To maximise protection, license agreements should: (a) clearly define what constitutes a trade secret; (b) require the licensee to implement specific security measures; (c) restrict further disclosure; and (d) provide for audit rights. Additionally, registering core technology with KIPO's trade secret registration system (비밀관리 상태 인정) can strengthen protection.
Q6: What KFTC conditions are typically imposed on technology licensing arrangements?
The KFTC's IP Licensing Guidelines identify several types of restrictions that may violate competition law: (1) exclusive grant-back requirements; (2) post-expiry royalty obligations; (3) restrictions on challenging patent validity; (4) tying requirements (requiring licensee to purchase additional products/services from licensor); and (5) unjustified territorial or customer restrictions. Foreign licensors should structure their agreements to avoid these red-flag provisions, particularly if they hold a dominant market position in Korea.
Q7: Is arbitration or Korean court litigation better for technology licensing disputes?
For international technology licensing disputes, arbitration — particularly before KCAB International Arbitration (서울국제중재센터) or ICC — is generally preferred over Korean court litigation. Key advantages include: confidentiality, ability to select arbitrators with technical expertise, international enforceability under the New York Convention, and greater flexibility in procedural rules. Korean courts are generally competent and efficient for domestic disputes, but for cross-border disputes where enforcement in multiple jurisdictions may be needed, arbitration provides a clear advantage.
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📋 韩国法律洞察 | 知识产权法
作者：NOH UJIN 律师 | HANBYOL LAW LLC，首尔
韩国法律下的技术转让与许可协议
韩国是全球领先的技术驱动型经济体，半导体、电子、造船、汽车制造和生物制药领域涌现出众多全球巨头。因此，技术转让与许可协议——一方授予另一方使用专利、商业秘密、专有技术或版权软件等知识产权的合同——是外国企业在韩国开展或参与韩国业务时最重要的商业协议之一。
1. 主要适用法律
- 《专利法》——规范专利许可（第99条规定转让，第100至102条规定许可）。
- 《著作权法》——规范软件、数据库及其他版权作品的许可。
- 《不正当竞争防止及商业秘密保护法》——规范商业秘密和专有技术的保护与许可。
- 《垄断规制及公正交易法》——韩国公正交易委员会（KFTC）对反竞争性许可条款进行规制。
- 《外汇交易法》——规范向境外许可方支付的特许权使用费，包括申报要求。
- 《法人税法》及《所得税法》——特许权使用费的税务影响，包括预扣税义务。
2. 许可类型
- 专用实施权（전용실시권）——被许可人享有排他性使用权，须向韩国特许厅（KIPO）登记方对第三方产生法律效力。
- 通常实施权（통상실시권）——许可方保留向其他方授予许可的权利。无需登记即对双方有效。
- 再许可——仅在原始许可协议明确授权时，被许可方方可向第三方授予再许可。
3. 许可协议核心条款
- 许可范围条款——明确界定被许可技术、地域范围、使用领域和排他性。
- 特许权使用费结构——可采用运行特许权使用费、一次性付款、最低保证特许权使用费或混合结构。
- 改进与返授条款——KFTC对强制排他性返授条款进行严格审查，因其可能产生反竞争效应。非排他性返授条款通常可被接受。
- 保密与商业秘密保护——韩国对商业秘密盗用规定了高达15年有期徒刑和高额罚款的严厉处罚。
- 期限与终止——应明确规定期限和终止事由，并设置合理的通知和治愈期。
4. 监管要求
- 外汇申报——韩国居民向境外许可方支付特许权使用费须依法申报。超过5万美元的单笔支付可能需要额外申报。
- 预扣税——标准预扣税率为20%（含地方所得税附加税为22%），税收协定可降低该税率。
- KFTC审查——应对照KFTC《知识产权不公平行使审查指南》审核许可条款。
常见问题解答（FAQ）
Q1：技术许可协议需要在韩国登记才能生效吗？
通常实施权在当事方之间无需登记即有效，但登记对于对抗第三方是必要的。专用实施权须向KIPO登记方能产生任何法律效力，包括对许可方。软件和商业秘密许可无需登记即有效。
Q2：向境外许可方支付特许权使用费适用何种预扣税率？
标准预扣税率为20%（含附加税为22%）。税收协定可降低该税率——例如韩美税收协定将大多数特许权使用费的税率降至15%。韩国支付方负责代扣代缴并申报。
Q3：许可协议中的竞业禁止条款是否可执行？
若范围和期限合理、限于相关技术领域且不超出合法利益保护的必要限度，则通常可执行。KFTC可能对过于宽泛的竞业禁止条款进行审查。
Q4：向韩国被许可方披露商业秘密时如何保护？
《不正当竞争防止法》规定了强有力的保护措施：商业秘密盗用最高可判处15年有期徒刑和15亿韩元罚款。建议许可协议明确界定商业秘密、规定安全措施、限制进一步披露并约定审计权。
Q5：KFTC通常对技术许可安排施加哪些限制？
KFTC知识产权许可指南规定，以下情形可能违反竞争法：强制排他性返授、专利到期后的特许权使用费义务、限制质疑专利效力、搭售要求以及不合理的地域或客户限制。
📚 相关文章
📋 韓国法律インサイト | 知的財産法
弁護士 NOH UJIN | HANBYOL LAW LLC、ソウル
韓国法における技術移転・ライセンス契約
韓国は半導体、電子機器、造船、自動車製造、バイオ医薬品などの分野で世界をリードする技術駆動型経済です。そのため、技術移転・ライセンス契約——一方が他方に特許、営業秘密、ノウハウ、著作権ソフトウェアなどの知的財産の使用権を付与する契約——は、韓国でビジネスを行う外国企業にとって最も重要な商業契約の一つです。
1. 主要適用法令
- 特許法——特許ライセンスを規律（第99条：譲渡、第100〜102条：ライセンス）。
- 著作権法——ソフトウェア、データベース等の著作物のライセンスを規律。
- 不正競争防止及び営業秘密保護に関する法律——営業秘密・ノウハウの保護とライセンスを規律。
- 独占規制及び公正取引に関する法律——KFTCが反競争的ライセンス条件を規制。
- 外国為替取引法——海外ライセンサーへのロイヤルティ支払いと届出要件を規律。
2. ライセンスの種類
- 専用実施権（전용실시권）——排他的使用権。KIPO登録が第三者対抗要件。
- 通常実施権（통상실시권）——非排他的ライセンス。当事者間では登録不要で有効。
- サブライセンス——原契約で明示的に許可された場合のみ可能。
3. ライセンス契約の主要条項
- ライセンス付与条項——対象技術、地域、使用分野、排他性を明確に定義。
- ロイヤルティ構造——ランニングロイヤルティ、一括払い、最低保証額、またはハイブリッド構造。
- 改良・グラントバック条項——強制的排他的グラントバック条項はKFTCの厳格な審査対象。非排他的条項は一般的に許容。
- 秘密保持・営業秘密保護——不正競争防止法により最高15年の懲役と多額の罰金が規定。
- 期間・解除——合理的な通知・治癒期間を設けた明確な解除条項が不可欠。
4. 規制上の要件
- 外国為替報告——海外ライセンサーへのロイヤルティ支払いは外国為替取引法に基づき報告義務あり。
- 源泉徴収税——標準税率20%（地方所得税附加含め22%）。租税条約により軽減可能。
- KFTC審査——ライセンス条件はKFTCの知的財産権不当行使審査ガイドラインに照らして確認が必要。
よくある質問（FAQ）
Q1：技術ライセンス契約は韓国で登録が必要ですか？
通常実施権は当事者間では登録不要で有効ですが、第三者への対抗要件として登録が必要です。専用実施権はKIPOへの登録がなければ法的効力を一切生じません。ソフトウェア・営業秘密ライセンスは登録不要で有効です。
Q2：海外ライセンサーへのロイヤルティに適用される源泉徴収税率は？
標準税率は20%（附加税含め22%）です。租税条約により軽減可能で、例えば韓米租税条約では多くのロイヤルティに15%が適用されます。韓国の支払者が源泉徴収と申告を行います。
Q3：ライセンス契約の競業禁止条項は韓国で執行可能ですか？
範囲・期間が合理的で関連技術分野に限定され、保護される正当な利益に比例している場合、一般的に執行可能です。KFTCは、ライセンサーが市場支配力を持つ場合、過度に広い競業禁止条項を審査することがあります。
Q4：韓国のライセンシーと営業秘密を共有する際の保護は？
不正競争防止法により、営業秘密の不正取得は最高15年の懲役・15億ウォンの罰金が規定されています。契約上、営業秘密の定義、セキュリティ要件、再開示制限、監査権を明確に定めることが重要です。
Q5：技術ライセンス紛争には仲裁と韓国裁判所訴訟のどちらが適していますか？
国際的な技術ライセンス紛争には、KCAB国際仲裁（ソウル国際仲裁センター）またはICCによる仲裁が一般的に推奨されます。秘密保持、技術的専門知識を持つ仲裁人の選定、ニューヨーク条約に基づく国際執行可能性などが主な利点です。
📚 関連記事
📋 Perspectiva Jurídica Coreana | Derecho de Propiedad Intelectual
Por el Abogado NOH UJIN | HANBYOL LAW LLC, Seúl
Acuerdos de Transferencia de Tecnología y Licencias bajo la Ley Coreana
Corea del Sur es una de las economías más avanzadas tecnológicamente del mundo, con gigantes globales en semiconductores, electrónica, construcción naval, fabricación automotriz y biofarmacéutica. Como resultado, los acuerdos de transferencia de tecnología y licencias — contratos por los cuales una parte otorga a otra el derecho a utilizar propiedad intelectual como patentes, secretos comerciales, know-how o software con derechos de autor — se encuentran entre los contratos comerciales más significativos para empresas extranjeras que operan en Corea.
1. Marco Legal Aplicable
- Ley de Patentes——Regula las licencias de patentes (artículo 99 para transferencia; artículos 100–102 para licencias).
- Ley de Derechos de Autor——Regula las licencias de software, bases de datos y otras obras con derechos de autor.
- Ley de Prevención de Competencia Desleal y Protección de Secretos Comerciales——Regula la protección y licencia de secretos comerciales y know-how.
- Ley de Regulación Monopólica y Comercio Justo——La KFTC impone restricciones a condiciones de licencia anticompetitivas.
- Ley de Transacciones en Divisas——Regula los pagos de regalías a licenciantes extranjeros.
2. Tipos de Licencias de Tecnología
- Licencia Exclusiva (전용실시권)——El licenciatario tiene el derecho exclusivo de uso. Debe registrarse en KIPO para tener efecto contra terceros.
- Licencia No Exclusiva (통상실시권)——El licenciante conserva el derecho de otorgar licencias adicionales. No requiere registro para ser válida entre las partes.
- Sublicencia——Solo posible con autorización expresa en el acuerdo de licencia original.
3. Cláusulas Esenciales en Acuerdos de Licencia de Tecnología
- Alcance de la Licencia——Definir con precisión la tecnología licenciada, el territorio, el campo de uso y la exclusividad.
- Estructura de Regalías——Regalías corrientes, pagos únicos, regalías mínimas garantizadas o estructuras híbridas.
- Cláusulas de Mejora y Grant-Back——Las cláusulas de grant-back exclusivas obligatorias están sujetas a escrutinio estricto de la KFTC. Las no exclusivas son generalmente permisibles.
- Confidencialidad y Secretos Comerciales——La ley coreana prevé hasta 15 años de prisión por apropiación indebida de secretos comerciales.
- Vigencia y Terminación——Incluir períodos razonables de notificación y subsanación.
4. Requisitos Regulatorios
- Reporte de Divisas——Los pagos de regalías al extranjero deben reportarse según la Ley de Transacciones en Divisas. Pagos superiores a USD 50,000 pueden requerir reporte adicional.
- Retención de Impuestos sobre Regalías——Tasa estándar del 20% (22% con recargo local). Los tratados fiscales pueden reducir esta tasa.
- Revisión de la KFTC——Las condiciones de licencia deben verificarse con las Directrices de la KFTC sobre Ejercicio Injusto de Derechos de Propiedad Intelectual.
Preguntas Frecuentes (FAQ)
P1: ¿Necesita registrarse un acuerdo de licencia de tecnología en Corea para ser válido?
La licencia no exclusiva (통상실시권) es válida entre las partes sin registro, pero el registro es necesario para hacerla oponible a terceros. La licencia exclusiva (전용실시권) debe registrarse en KIPO para tener cualquier efecto legal. Las licencias de software y secretos comerciales no requieren registro para su validez.
P2: ¿Qué tasa de retención fiscal aplica a las regalías pagadas a un licenciante extranjero?
La tasa estándar es del 20% (22% incluyendo el recargo local sobre el impuesto de renta). Los tratados fiscales pueden reducir esta tasa — por ejemplo, el tratado Corea-EE.UU. la reduce al 15% para la mayoría de las regalías. El pagador coreano es responsable de retener e ingresar el impuesto.
P3: ¿Son ejecutables las cláusulas de no competencia en los acuerdos de licencia de tecnología en Corea?
Sí, si son razonables en alcance y duración, limitadas al campo de tecnología relevante y proporcionadas a los intereses que se busca proteger. La KFTC puede escrutinar cláusulas excesivamente amplias, especialmente cuando el licenciante tiene poder de mercado.
P4: ¿Cómo se protegen los secretos comerciales al compartirlos con un licenciatario coreano?
La Ley de Prevención de Competencia Desleal establece hasta 15 años de prisión y multas de hasta 1,500 millones KRW por apropiación indebida de secretos comerciales. Los acuerdos deben definir claramente qué constituye un secreto comercial, establecer medidas de seguridad, restringir la divulgación adicional y prever derechos de auditoría.
P5: ¿Qué condiciones impone típicamente la KFTC a los acuerdos de licencia de tecnología?
Las Directrices de Licencias de PI de la KFTC identifican: (1) requisitos de grant-back exclusivo; (2) obligaciones de regalías tras la expiración de la patente; (3) restricciones para impugnar la validez de la patente; (4) requisitos de vinculación; y (5) restricciones territoriales o de clientes injustificadas.
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