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| 포스코홀딩스 (사진=연합뉴스) |
[Alpha Biz=(Chicago) Reporter Paul Lee] The behind-the-scenes patent battle between POSCO and Hyundai Steel, South Korea's No. 1 and No. 2 steelmakers, is in full swing.
It was confirmed on the 18th that POSCO canceled a patent related to "hot-rolled steel (Hot Rolled Steel)" held by Hyundai Steel.
According to the Korean Intellectual Property Office on the same day, the Korean Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board decided on a patent cancellation application for "hot-rolled steel and their manufacturing methods" filed by POSCO Holdings against Hyundai Steel on the 20th of last month. This is because it is similar to patents such as pre-registered Japan's No. 2 steelmaker JFE's method of manufacturing "high-carbon hot-rolled steel plates (hot rolled sheet steels)" and "high-carbon hot-rolled steel plates (hot rolled sheet steels) and their manufacturing methods due to their excellent hardenability and processability."
Hot-rolled steel refers to hot-rolled coils produced by hot-rolled rolling machines (Hot Strip Mills) and out-of-print hot-rolled steel sheets. Some of the hot-rolled coils produced at hot-rolled factories are sold as finished products or reprocessed into high value-added products as they are used as intermediate materials for cold-rolled and electric steel plates. It is a major product that domestic companies such as POSCO and Hyundai Steel are focusing on due to its high strength and excellent welding, processing, and corrosion resistance.
The evidence was also submitted by POSCO as it was at the time of cancellation of the 'Hot Stamping' patent. In general, applications for patent cancellation by competitors are often made due to the judgment that the scope of patents is excessive. This is because its business could be damaged by a wide range of patent applications.
Alphabiz Reporter Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
