슬리밍 화장품의 특허 동향에 관한 연구

With the growth of the beauty and health industry and the expansion of the obese population, the variety of slimming products is also widening. Thus, this study analyzed trends in patent applications for domestic slimming cosmetics. Data for this study were collected from the Korea Institute of Patent Information (www.kipris.or.kr) using keywords related to slimming and ‘A61K8,’ which is the code for cosmetics in International Patent Classification (IPC). The selected subjects were 71 patent applications made during the period from January 1, 2004 to May, 2014. First, according to the results of analyzing the number of patent applications for slimming cosmetics by year, the number was largest as 19 (26.76%) in 2010, which was followed by 11 (15.49%) in 2007, 10 (14.08%) in 2009, 9 (12.68%) in 2011, 7 (9.86%) in 2012, and 6 (8.45%) in 2008. According to the results of analyzing the number of patent application countries by year, it was largest as 4 in 2007 and 2010, and according to the results of analyzing patent applications made by natives and foreigners, 54 patent applications (76.06%) were made by natives and 17 (23.94%) by foreigners. According to the results of analysis by research actors, 45 (83.33%) of the patent applications made by natives were by private companies, 7 (12.96%) by public institutions, and 2 (3.70%) by individuals. In addition, 12 (70.59%) of the patent applications made by foreigners were by private companies, and 5 (29.41%) by individuals. According to the results of analysis by applicant, 11 applicants made two or more patent applications each and a total of 41 applications (57.75%), and 30 applicants made a patent application each and a total of 30 applications (42.25%). According to the results of analyzing the number of patent applications by material, 10 and 9 applications in 2010 were for the use of compounds and the use of medical herbs, respectively. In addition, a total of 36 applications (52.70%) were for the use of compounds, and 28 (39.44%) for the use of medical herbs. Natives made 23 applications (43%) for the use of compounds and 24 (44%) for the use of medical herbs, and foreigners 13 (76%) and 4 (24%), respectively. According to the results of analysis by use, 65 patent applications (91.55%) were for cosmetic compositions, 4 (5.63%) for additives, and 2 (2.82%) for other uses. According to the results of analysis by effect, 46 products (64.79%) had a single effect, and 19 (26.76%) had multiple effects. These findings showed the current trends in patent applications for domestic slimming cosmetics, and they are expected to provide basic information for the development and patent application of various slimming cosmetic materials through systematic research for proving effects.