Taiwan IP Updates  ¡V November 2024

By Lyndon 

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Taiwan Publishes IPR Statistics for Patents in 2nd quarter of 2024

In the second quarter of 2024, TIPO processed a total of 17,683 patent applications, comprising 11,988 inventions, 3,766 utility models, and 1,929 designs, as well as 23,885 trademark registration applications.  Compared to the same quarter in 2023, the number of patent applications from resident applicants saw a 2% decline, while applications from non-residents increased by 6%.  Overall, there was a positive growth trend in the total number of applications compared to the same period last year.  In terms of resident invention patent applicants, TSMC has maintained the top position for 8 consecutive years since the second quarter of 2017.  Second was Nanya Technology, third was AU Optronics, fourth was Inventec, and fifth was Innolux.  As to the non-resident invention patent applicants, Applied Materials was top of the list, Samsung Electronics was second, Qualcomm was third, Tokyo Electronics was fourth, and Coupang was fifth.  Looking at invention patents from the source countries, Japan was first, the US was second, China was third, South Korea was fourth, and Germany was fifth.
For design patents, residents filed 855 design patent applications, and non-residents filed 1,074 design patent applications.  Shu-Te University was the top applicant for design patents in this period, L&F Plastics was second, Compal was third, Tong Yah was fourth, and Delta was fifth.  Amongst non-residents design patent applicants, Zhejiang Smart Intelligence was first, Ford Global Technologies was second, BMW was third, Molex was fourth, and China Wonderland was fifth.

Taiwan’s Key Technologies List to Be Expanded

To ensure national security and maintain an industrial competitive edge in response to changes in international regulations, the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) has recently published a preview of 10 technologies that it has proposed to be added to the list of key technologies.  The original list was published on December 5th last year and consisted of 22 key technologies, ranging from national defense, cybersecurity, aerospace, agriculture, and semiconductors amongst others.  The aim of the list was to prevent secret information about the abovementioned technologies being leaked to foreign countries, which could put the nation’s security and the competitiveness of local industries at risk.  Rising concerns about hostile forces undermining the nation’s security, industrial competitiveness and economic development have come to a head in recent years, causing the NSTC to take assertive action.  This year, the 10 new technologies include artificial intelligence, chip design, small satellite launch systems, quantum technologies, advanced semiconductors.  The list would be reviewed periodically to prevent technology leaks to China, including Hong Kong and Macau.  A review conference will be held at the end of the year to approve the 10 new technologies with the final decision sent to the Executive Yuan for announcement.