Intellectual Property Rights Presentation
After completing the Oasis Four class I was sent an email alerting me to the upcoming Oasis-One class. The class consisted of a two-hour orientation that would be held on Friday, May 12, 2017, and two weekend classes that would be held from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. the following Saturday and Sunday.
I submitted my application on the Korea Invention Promotion Association website along with the necessary identification requirements. On the first night of class, I got lost trying to find the correct subway exit. This was my first trip riding Line 2 subway, to the Gangnam station exit. Usually, the farthest I traveled on Line 2 was to Itaewon where I visited the Foreigners market.
Luckily, I had obtained contact information from one of the attendees in the previous Oasis class. I called and asked her for directions then headed back to the subway station. After finding the correct exit I walked to the Korean Invention Property Association building located about three blocks from the subway.
During the two hour orientation we introduced ourselves to the rest of the class and the presenter. The presenter gave us a brief introduction about her life in South Korea and then presented a powerpoint presentation with helpful tips on thriving in the Korean business culture. After her presentation, we were informed that we would have different presenters during the weekend classes.
Day 1 ~ Saturday Weekend Class
Our first presenter turned out to be a lawyer that practiced law not only in South Korea, but previously worked as a patent attorney in the United States. It became an extremely helpful session as he used real-life cases to inform us about Creating Ideas For Inventions, Overview Of Intellectual Property Rights, and Understanding Patent Institutions.
Day 2 ~ Sunday Weekend Class
On the second day of class, the weather was rainy and windy. It was typically a day I would spend sitting on the couch watching a Lord of the Rings marathon and eating junk food. However, after signing the attendance rooster we listened to the presenter as he discussed Understanding Patent Specifications. We had a midday lunch break before the afternoon session began. I went to a great Indian restaurant nearby and had a chicken curry dish. Again, I wish I had taken a picture of both the name of the restaurant and the dish. A different presenter took over the afternoon session and presented on the Basics of Patent Information Search.
Lastly, the director of the program, called us, one by one up to the front of the class and we were presented an embellished dark blue horizontal folder with our Oasis 1 completion certificate.
Overall, the class was very informative for any foreigners who wish to start a small business in South Korea. I enjoyed the free lunch provided during the weekend sessions, however, the best part of attending the training was being able to network with fellow entrepreneurs.
Patents and Trademarks Information:
Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service
Korea Intellectual Property Office
Have you started a small business overseas, or in South Korea? Would love to hear your thoughts on this incredible journey in the comments down below.
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