Top 100 Patent Applicants in 2021
According to TIPO’s 2021 Statistical Rankings for Patent Applications and Grants, TSMC was the top domestic applicant for invention, utility model, and design patents, with 1,950 applications filed. The company has held on to its lead for the sixth consecutive year now. As for foreign applicants, Qualcomm claimed the top spot for the second year in a row, having filed a total of 845 applications. With respect to the number of patents granted for all three patent types, TSMC led the pack for domestic applications (1,053 patents granted), and Applied Materials was the most successful foreign applicant (492 patents granted). Invention patent applications by domestic corporations and research institutions of the top 100 went up by 17% and 11% respectively.
TIPO Statistics Report: Patent and Trademark Applications in 2021
In 2021, overall patent applications increased by 1% to 72,613 cases. Of these, invention patent applications (49,116 cases) grew by 5%, while utility model (15,796 cases) and design patent applications (7,701 cases) decreased by 10% and 4% respectively. For trademark applications, 95,917 cases were filed—the highest number recorded ever since TIPO was founded in 1999. As to examination efficiency, the average disposal pendency was 14.0 months for invention patent applications and decreased to 6.2 months for trademark applications.
TIPO Introduces Green Patent Revisions to Accelerated Examination Program on January 1, 2022
TIPO’s revisions for green patents to the Accelerate Examination Program (AEP) took effect on January 1, 2022. These revisions were made in an effort to promote research, development and commercialization of green patents in Taiwan. On January 1, 2014, TIPO added Inventions Related to Green Energy Technologies (Condition 4) to the AEP. As of July of 2021, 255 AEP requests have been filed for green technology patents, accounting for 2.74% of all AEP requests. Taiwan applicants filed a majority - up to 88% - of all green patent AEP requests, and the top three fields of technology are solar energy, LED lighting and lithium-ion battery technologies.
TIPO Launches Design Patent Priority Document Exchange Program with JPO
The Taiwan-Japan MoU on Electronic Patent Priority Document Exchange (PDX) was signed in 2013, applicable to both invention and utility model patent applications. As the PDX program has been put to extensive use by applicants from both countries since its implementation, an additional MoU on Design Patent Priority Document Exchange was signed in 2019. Upon its implementation, by providing an alternative to mailing paperwork, the PDX program can increase application efficiency and streamline cross-country application procedures. Broadening the scope of the bilateral PDX cooperation has also made the exchange mechanism between Taiwan and Japan progressively comprehensive and robust.
TIPO Releases Guide to AI Application in Precision Medicine IP
To assist in building IP Portfolio for Precision Health – one of the Six Core Strategic Industries of Taiwan – TIPO held various speeches, consultations, and interviews throughout 2021, intending to facilitate conversations between TIPO, the precision health industry, and research institutions. Additionally, TIPO offered customized coaching to research programs granted by the Department of Life Sciences of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and gained a deeper understanding of the obstacles that may arise when eHealth and Precision Health industries seek IPR protection. Based on the above-mentioned experiences, the Guide to AI Application in Precision Medicine IP was compiled for public reference.
