Taiwan IP Updates  ¡V Jun 2024

By Lyndon 

¡@

Manufacturing Firms in Taiwan Increase R & D Spending

The Ministry of Economic Affairs released data for 2023 showing listed manufacturing companies accelerated their research and development spending to a record high of NT 692.7 billion dollars in the face of a dip in sales and profits.  The spending was up 2.9% from 2022, driven mainly by expenditures by those in the electronic parts, computer products and optical components industries.  Companies in the electronic components sector spent NT 450.7 billion dollars on R & D last year, up 2.2% and accounted for 65.1% of overall spending, while those in the computer products and optical components sector spent NT 158 billion dollars, up 4% and contributing 22.8% of the total.  In terms of individual companies, global foundry giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) headed the list with R & D spending of NT 178.7 billion dollars, up 11.1% from 2022 and accounted for 25.8% of the total.  Smartphone chip designer MediaTek Inc. came in second with spending of NT 80.6 billion dollars and networking chip designer Realtek Semiconductor Corp. was in third place at NT 20.1 billion dollars.  Despite the inclement economic weather, firms in Taiwan have still been developing technologies to maintain their leading edge in the market..

Summary of Operating Procedures for Accelerated Examination of Trademark Applications in Taiwan

The Trademark Act was amended last year to cater to those who needed an accelerated examination of their trademark application.  The amendment came into effect on May 1, 2024.  To help applicants prepare for the accelerated examination, the Operating Procedures for Accelerated Examination of Trademark Applications were announced on April 30, 2024.  The main aspects of the procedure are as follows:

1. The trademark must be currently in use or there are substantial preparations for use to qualify for accelerated examination.  To prove the trademark is undergoing substantial preparations for use the applicant must provide information about the planned use of the trademark, such as samples of goods or services, advertising documents, orders for promotional materials, and advertising contracts.
2. For goods or services that are already in use, to prove that there is an urgent necessity for accelerated examination of the trademark application, the applicant must show that the trademark is being used by a third party without its consent, or a third party is requesting authorization for the trademark, or that sales or distribution contracts have been concluded with partner companies.  The evidence of actual trademark use must be identical to the trademark applied for.