Taiwan and Japan concluded a Patent Prosecution Highway Memorandum of Understanding April 11 in Taipei City, further cementing their special partnership.
The memorandum, which calls for fast-track processing of patent applications lodged in both countries, is the third pact finalized between Taiwan and Japan in the past year. It follows the investment protection arrangement and open sky agreement inked in September and November 2011, respectively.
“We believe this MOU will spur bilateral investment and technological cooperation, creating a win-win situation for the private sectors of both countries,” said Liao Liou-yi, chairman of Taipei-based Association of East Asian Relations, at the signing ceremony.
Mitsuo Ohashi, chairman of Tokyo-headquartered Interchange Association, responded that he was pleased with the development and looks forward to expanded exchanges between both sides.
The AEAR oversees Taiwan’s ties with Japan in the absence of formal diplomatic relations, which were severed by Tokyo in September 1972. Its Japan counterpart is the ICA.
Wang Mei-hua, director-general of the Intellectual Property Office (TIPO) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, said the memorandum will take effect May 1, and is the second concluded between her organization and an overseas patent body. The first was finalized with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in August 2011.
“Patent applicants can now expect to receive a final ruling from the TIPO within six months after submitting a second filing with the Japan Patent Office,” Wang said. “This is down from an average processing time for regular cases of 41 months.”
Wang said that under an existing arrangement, owners of Japanese patents can obtain a TIPO ruling in 2.5 months. “The memorandum will slash this figure by at least half,” she added.
MOEA statistics reveal that the TIPO received 13,366 Japanese patent applications last year, the highest of all countries and regions. The JPO handled around 1,450 submissions from Taiwan over the same period of time. (JSM)
Write to Meg Chang at meg.chang@mail.gio.gov.tw