Annuities for Design Patent slashed since July 1, 2011

Taiwan Intellectual Property Office (TIPO) amended the Regulations of Patent Fees and substantially lowered the annuity fees for design patent, starting from July 1, cut as high as 56.2%. Moreover, if the patentee is a natural person, school, or small and medium-sized enterprise, in coordination with the Regulations for Reduction and Exemption of Patent Annuities took effect on July 6, 2006, there is no need to make payment for the first through the third annuity. In addition, after the design patentee pays the fee for obtaining patent certificate, TIPO will automatically make a record that the 1st to the 3rd year annuities have been already paid. The patentee does not need to apply for payment of said fees, and, if not yet due, the pre-paid annuities can be requested for a refund of the difference in amount or for a deduction of the next annuity.

Adjustments of Design Patent Annuities

(Currency: New Taiwan dollars)

Currently, the total official fee for a design patent in Taiwan is NT$ 42,000 which is higher than those in the United States and Australia, but lower than Japan and China. However, after adjustment, the total official fee amounts to NT$24,400 which is higher than the OHIM and South Korea only.

Current Total Amount of Official Fees in Major Countries for Design Patent

(Currency: New Taiwan dollars)

TIPO hopes that through the measure of slashing annuities for design patent, economically disadvantaged persons and small and medium-sized enterprises can be cared in substance, and in line with the official promotions for development in cultural and creative industries, innovations can be encouraged so that the number of design patent applications could increase.