Korean Companies Applying for Increasing Number of Flexible Smartphone Patents

Korean companies have accelerated flexible smart phone development since 2012.

According to the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the number of patent applications for flexible smart phones soared from 40 in 2011 to 120 and 110 in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

Fully 26.7 percent of the applications were about user interface, followed by deformation detection and image correction (22.3 percent), touch screen (20.6 percent), flexible displays (16.5 percent), and mechanical coupling structure maintenance (13.9 percent).

By applicant, Korean companies accounted for 92 percent, while the percentage was limited to only 8 percent for foreign companies.