Agentic AI startup Fortytwo Maru said on Thursday it will take part in the K-AI Patent Strategy Council, a public-private cooperation framework aimed at responding to global competition in AI patents.

The council, launched earlier this month by the Korean Intellectual Property Office and the Korea Institute of Patent Strategy and Development, was set up to secure core and applied AI patents in advance and jointly respond to overseas technology dependence and patent disputes.

About 20 industry, academia and research organisations and related institutions are taking part, including Fortytwo Maru, LG AI Research, SK Telecom, KT, Kakao, Upstage, Rebellions, Nota AI, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI).

At the launch ceremony, participants shared details of the "Sovereign AI Global Patent Strengthening Support" project scheduled to be promoted in 2027 and the results of patent analysis of SAIL, a patent-sharing licensing alliance involving major U.S. AI companies. Participating organisations also discussed ways to improve AI intellectual property systems and jointly respond to global patent pools.

Fortytwo Maru said it has filed a total of 122 patent applications in South Korea and overseas so far, including 50 related to generative AI.

Fortytwo Maru CEO Donghwan Kim (김동환) said, "As the global AI hegemony competition intensifies, the patent war to pre-empt core foundational technologies and intellectual property rights is also going into full swing." He added, "We will proactively respond to the risks of technology dependence on overseas big tech and patent disputes, and contribute to strengthening the patent sovereignty and global technological competitiveness of South Korea's sovereign AI."