TIPO’s Q1 2020 IPR Statistics Report
In Q1 2020, TIPO received a total of 16,680 applications for invention, utility model and design patents, registering a 3% decrease over the same period last year. Of these, design patent applications filed by non-residents saw a 2% growth. Applications for trademark registrations (20,310 cases) were up by 4%; of these, the number of trademark applications filed by residents grew by 7%. Among domestic applicants, TSMC filed the most invention patent applications and NITTO DENKO, in terms of foreign applicants, topped the list. In addition, invention patent applications filed by domestic SMEs grew by 9%.
TIPO-JPO Permanent PPH MOTTAINAI Program Comes Into Effect on May 1, 2020
The Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program between Taiwan and Japan will come to an end on April 30, 2020. In view of its excellent performance, both sides agreed that a permanent PPH program will be in place, starting on May 1 this year. The permanent program is aimed at continuing to provide applicants with stable and convenient PPH services.
New “Fast-Track” trademark examination mechanism to hit the road on May 1 for applicants to secure their rights quickly
To encourage applicants to utilize TIPO’s e-filing application system and to speed up trademark examination, TIPO will enforce a “Fast-Track” mechanism soon. From May 1, 2020 on, the trademark applicants who pay their fees duly and whose documents meet the following requirements at the time of application will find their cases examined two months earlier than others:
TIPO releases 2019 PPH program statistics
In recent years, the number of patent applications has seen a significant growth, due to rapid economic developments around the world. Thus, the globe’s IP offices are all actively signing Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) programs to share examination results, thereby ultimately reducing the patent backlog. At this moment, TIPO has been in PPH cooperation with six countries: the United States (effective since Sept. 1, 2011), Japan (effective since May 1, 2012), Spain (effective since Oct. 1, 2013), South Korea (effective since April 1, 2015), Poland (effective since August 1, 2017), and Canada (effective since Feb. 1, 2018), to help applicants acquire patent examination results sooner.
Activities of the 2020 IPR Service Group will kick off at end of March
To advocate intellectual property rights (IPR) protection, TIPO gathers up IPR experts and scholars to form the IPR Service Group, which gives lectures across Taiwan throughout a year to fulfill society’s needs. As long as there are 30 attendants or more, any school or institution can ask TIPO to give a two-hour lecture for them. For companies, a minimum of just 20 attendants are required. The date of lecture and the issues to be discussed may be decided by the applicant, and all this is free of charge. For the latest updates, please visit the TIPO website.
