經通國際智慧產權事務所

In the first half of 2021, TIPO received a total of 35,264 patent applications (including invention, utility model, and design patents) as well as 46,379 trademark applications; this represents a 4% and 7% increase respectively compared with the same period last year. Invention patent applications filed by resident applicants saw a rapid increase mainly due to a 21% growth in the number of large enterprise applications. TSMC took the lead among resident applicants (1,263 cases), and Qualcomm among non-resident applicants (454 cases). Trademark applications, combined with resident and non-resident applicants, hit a record high again by going up 7%. In general, patent and trademark applications saw steady growth in the first half of 2021.
 

Patent Applications

• Among the three types of patent applications in Taiwan, there were 23,876 invention patent applications filed. The applications from resident and non-resident applicants both increased compared with the same period last year, with the growth rate of the former (13%) higher than that of the latter (6%). On the other hand, utility model and design patent applications filed by non-resident applicants grew by 22% and 5% respectively.
• The applications from enterprises (7,650 cases) accounted for 79% of the domestic invention patent applications. The applications from enterprises not only grew for five consecutive years but also saw the highest growth rate in the first half of 2021, thanks to the 21% increase contributed by large enterprises. TSMC, a resident applicant that plays a pivotal role in Taiwan’s R&D innovation, filed 1,263 invention patent applications, setting a new historical record by exceeding 1,000 cases for one single applicant. For design patent applications, Coplus topped the list with 59 cases filed.
• On the other hand, the number of invention patent applications filed by domestic universities/colleges reduced slightly, with National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University claiming first place with 59 cases. The number of applications submitted by domestic research institutes grew by 4%, among which ITRI filed the most applications (101 cases). As for fintech patents, CTBC Bank filed 19 invention patent applications, outnumbering all other banks, insurance companies, and securities and futures companies.
• Among non-resident applicants, Japan took the lead with 6,044 invention patent applications and 512 design patent applications, while Mainland China claimed the top spot by filing the most utility model patent applications (358 cases). Qualcomm and Harry Winston topped the list by filing 454 invention patent applications and 97 design patent applications respectively.

Trademark Applications

• In comparison to the same period last year, the number of trademark applications has increased 7%, as TIPO received 46,379 applications (covering 59,814 classes). Resident and non-resident application numbers both grew, of which resident applications stood at 35,048, hitting an all-time high.
• In terms of application classes, resident applicants filed the most applications (6,919 cases) in class 35 (advertising, business management, retail, and wholesale services, etc.). A total of 2,333 non-resident applications from Mainland China outnumber other foreign countries/regions. Regarding classifications, Class 9 (computer and technology products, etc.) has the most applications (2,115 cases).
• Resident and non-resident applicants both saw tremendous growth. Top filer Taiwan Familymart, with 145 cases, ranked first among resident applicants; the Bunny Girl and Ulao Group, which were not applicants in the first half of 2020, ranked first and second among non-resident applicants.
• Furthermore, a total of 10,621 trademark applications classified under “Agriculture” were filed by resident applicants, a much higher number than other industries. Non-resident applicants had filed the most under the “Health” industry at the number 3,654, outperforming other industries.

TIPO_Releases_IPR_Statistics_for_the_First_Half_of_2021_Attachment

Intellectual Property Office Ministry of Economic Affairs, R.O.C.