Korean firms lead patent race for IP-TV technology

Korea is leading the world in the number of patent applications for the Internet-based TV technology IP-TV, a government report said yesterday. According to the Institute of Information Technology Assessment, the number of IP-TV patent applications in Korea stood at 319 as of the end of 2005, the highest of any country, followed by the U.S. with 208, Japan with 117, Europe with 48 and China with 23. IP-TV is an Internet-based television technology enabling users to view multiple and interactive channels through a broadband network. Including overseas patents, Korea also came in first by making a total of 325 applications as of last year, the report said. Daewoo Electronics Corp. led local firms with 107 patent applications, followed by LG Electronics Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. with 56 and 41, respectively. The number, however, seemed to show signs of a slowdown in recent years as the move to adopt the new technology faces opposition, the report noted. The launch of IP-TV in Korea has been delayed as the government and related industries have failed to narrow their differences on how to regulate the new medium that is said to straddle the line between communications and broadcasting.