Taiwan

In September 2021, Taiwan applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). To ensure that Taiwan’s IP rights laws comply with the CPTPP’s regulations, in April 2022 the Legislative Yuan approved the amendments to the Copyright Act, Trademark Act and Patent Act, in hopes of facilitating future negotiations for joining the CPTPP. It is also going to discuss another round of amendments to the Patent Act and Trademark Act, proposed by the Taiwan Intellectual Patent Office (TIPO) and aimed at establishing a Patent Trial and Appeal Board and a Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, together with other significant changes. It is expected that these amendments can bring a more efficient and innovative future for Taiwan’s IP law practice.  

At the same time, the TIPO is also introducing new measures to improve its IP services. For instance, it plans to use AI technology to assist substantive examinations for design patent applications, having offered similar support for invention and utility model patent applications since 2021, and will proceed with the plan in 2022. It is also working together with the Patent Search Centre to provide the services of patent search and analysis to the public.  

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Established in 1999, ALIPO, the Asia Liuh Intellectual Property Office, takes credit for more than 11,000 patents and 16,000 trademarks. The firm is headquartered in Taichung, with a branch office in Kaohsiung.  

Asian Pacific Int’l Patent & Trademark Office boasts 300,000 clients worldwide for its patent, trademark, copyright and legal services. With offices in New Taipei City and Kaohsiung, the firm offers the full range of IP services to clients including large corporations, government organizations, educational institutions and individuals. Asian Pacific will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024.  

Baker McKenzie enjoys a prominent presence in Taiwan. The firm’s patent capabilities include computer systems and peripheral devices, semiconductors and packaging, optoelectronics, liquid crystal display, communication systems, software, business methods, biotechnology and medical equipment. The trademark team registers trademarks, drafts licensing contracts, negotiates disputes and advises on trademark, trade secret and copyright protection. The firm works closely with government authorities such as TIPO to ban counterfeits and prompt police raids. Partner Grace Shao is a key contact. The firm was named Asia Pacific patents firm of the year at the 2023 Asia IP Awards. 

Best International IP Co. in Taipei focuses on patents, including invention patents, utility model patents and design patents, and also provides trademark and brand strategy services. The boutique firm has lawyers with specialization in the fields of chemistry, electronics and IT, mechanical engineering and life sciences/biotechnology.  

Brain Trust International Law Firm provides advice on a wide range of intellectual property issues with an eye towards its intersection with taxation and antitrust and competition law. Managing partner Hung Ou Yang, who specializes in transnational legal disputes, is a key contact. He advised Ferrari with regard to trademark infringement, among many other cases. He receives high marks from clients for being extremely communicative. 

Chen & Lin is noted for its general business advice in Taiwan, including its top intellectual property practice, as well as providing advice in corporate, securities, finance and business litigation. The firm’s clients include a wide variety of clients including a world-class semiconductor foundry company, several multinational corporations and many major national and international players in high tech and information industry involved in patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret license or infringement, telecommunication, depositary receipt or convertible bond issuance, joint venture, mergers and acquisition, trade practices, syndicated loan arrangement and environment protection. The firm, which was founded in 1992, is led by Che-Hung Chen, who has extensive experience in legal issues that could be faced by industries such as semiconductor, telecommunication, pharmaceuticals and information and high tech. Partner Shelly Chen is also a key contact. The firm was named Taiwan copyright firm of the year at the 2023 Asia IP Awards in Singapore. 

Chien Yeh & Associates is led by chief counselor Wen-Pin (Peter) Lai, who established the firm in 1985. When Taiwanese businesses began to enter the mainland China market in the 1990s, Lai wrote a series of 35 articles for the Taiwan External Trade Development Council about the mainland’s IPR system in an attempt to quell some of the then-frequent trademark disputes between the two jurisdictions. Lai was one of the first Taiwanese arbitrators in China, and has worked as an arbitrator in the Beijing Arbitration Commission since 2007. Tsun-Min Wang and Yi-An Lai are partners in the firm. 

Deep & Far was founded by CF Tsai, who has significant experience in both patent and trademark matters after more than three decades of practice in the field. The firm focuses on all aspects of IP including patents, trademarks, copyright, trade secrets and unfair competition. Tsai is friendly and helpful in handling IP questions. 

Eiger provides a variety of services for clients in and outside Taiwan, having handled large numbers of civil and criminal IP enforcement actions on behalf of major global brands, such as Philip Morris International, Kering (which owns Gucci and Bottega Veneta), Abercrombie & Fitch/Hollister, and Dolby. It also works with major global law firms that do not have a presence in Taiwan, including several Magic Circle law firms. Senior partner John Eastwood, of the firm’s greater China practice, has led the firm’s intellectual property and technology practice for the past several years. Of counsel Eve Chen is an experienced litigator and counselor with a strong background in intellectual property enforcement, working with many major brands on their country-wide efforts.  

The Enlighten Law Group advised an American company in patent and copyright litigation against a Taiwanese company which had handed over the client’s design layout to other manufacturers. The firm is heavily involved in FinTech, and is noted for pointing out legal minefields for clients and balancing their new ideas and compliance with regulatory requirements. Leading partner Kunchou Tsai is skillful and well-respected at IP, banking and finance, corporate finance and M&A matters. 

Global law firm Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner has an active IP practice in Taipei. Top IP strategist Gary C. Ma is managing partner of the firm’s Taipei office; he defended ADATA Technology (USA) against allegations of patent infringement directed to its solid-state drives, represented Wonderland Nurserygoods Co. in an action to enforce its patents against infringining products from Kids II, and defended Nuna International and Nuna Baby Essentials in a patent action brought by Britax Child Safety, asserting patents directed to child safety seats. Partner Bob Yoches divides his time between Taipei and Washington. His practice focuses on high-tech issues; he has been first chair in several U.S. International Trade Commission and district court actions. 

Founded by John Chen, Taipei-based Formosa Transnational assists companies, entrepreneurs, agencies and organizations, both foreign and domestic, to solve the legal challenges which have arisen as a result of the country’s technological improvements and economic growth. Managing partner Yulan Kuo, who leads the IP team, is noted for his work in patent litigation, as well as biotechnology and IT technology. 

Formosan Brothers is one Taipei’s top full-service law firms. The firm has separate trademark and patent practices, each of which includes prosecution/maintenance and enforcement/dispute resolution divisions; a copyright/trade secret protection and dispute resolution practice; and a comprehensive biomedical team which leads its medical technology and health care practice. Director and managing partner Yvonne Y.F. Lin and managing partner Jessie C.Y. Lee are key contacts for most IP matters; partner Yow-Lun Su is an excellent medical technology contact. The firm also has an office in Hsinchu, near Taiwan’s primary high-tech corridor. 

Giant Group International Patent, Trademark & Law Office in Taipei is noted for its litigation expertise, as well as its prosecution and filing work. It has extensive experience in courts and before government agencies, covering the full depth and breadth of intellectual property laws: patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, unfair competition, and antitrust. It is often called upon for expert advice in the acquisition and procurement of intellectual property rights, and has extensive experience in biotechnology, chemicals, computers and electronics, internet and e-commerce and mechanical matters. Giant Group also provides company establishment, company change, tax services, accounting and bookkeeping and related services. 

Gold Keen Intellectual Property Office has branches in Taichung and Taipei. The firm provides trademark and copyright registration, brand design and non-litigious legal services.  

InfoShare Tech Law Office was founded in 2000 by lawyers with a keen interest in advanced technology. The firm, with offices in Taipei and Kaoshiung, focuses on researching upcoming legal issues of new technology, including ecommerce, value-added internet service, protection of personal information, copyright disputes of digital work, consumer protection, employment issues in a knowledge-based economy and medical device development. Dick Lai is managing partner; Eric Chang and Ben Liu are senior partners at the firm.  

Innovatus Law was founded by managing partner Derek T.C. Sun, executive director Chia-heng Seetoo and partners Jamie C. Yang and Marine Yang. The firm has a particular interest in emerging technologies, including AI, blockchain/DLT and biometrics, including as those technologies apply to IP and antitrust, capital markets and other deal services, private equity and capital growth and business expansion. Jamie Yang is the firm’s lead on IP matters, including antitrust and cross-border litigation. The firm’s other founders bring expertise in civil litigation (Sun) and corporate and deal services (Seetoo and Marine Yang).  

Jones Day offers a broad range of advice on tech matters in Taipei, including advice and services aimed at intellectual property rights owners. Partner-in-charge Jason Chen focuses on commercial disputes, arbitration and IP; he served as a Taiwan District Court judge for almost 10 years adjudicating criminal and civil cases and was certified as the first professional intellectual property law judge by the Taiwan Judicial Yuan in 2002. Chen has led litigation teams and has handled prominent cases that include serving as lead counsel and securing a favorable judgment for a publicly listed petrochemical company in its defense of a patent infringement claim of US$100 million, which is the highest claim in Taiwan's history. 

Jaw-Hwa International Patent & Trademark & Law Offices was established in 1976; it has its head office in Taipei, near the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office, with branches in Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung, and a liaison office in Suzhou. The firm’s patent specialists cover a broad spectrum of technical areas. General manager and managing partner Simon Chiu specializes in IP, financial accounting and information integration; he leads the firm’s strategic planning, business implementation, quality and efficiency management and other regulatory practices. 

The IP practice group at LCS & Partners handles licensing, negotiation and consultation on IP matters, as well as provisional actions and litigation. The firm’s entertainment practice has acted as counsel, obtained government approval and negotiated contracts for numerous world-class artists in Taiwan, including Elton John, Yo-Yo Ma and Luciano Pavarotti. It also provides advice to foreign companies on compliance and other related issues for setting up carnivals and circus events in Taiwan. In 2017, the firm’s FinTech practice group published the first FinTech legal book in Taiwan, FinTech Law and Development. The book covers topics including virtual currency, ICO, crowdfunding, electronic payments, robo advisors, P2P lending and the sharing economy.  

With headquarters in Taipei and branch offices in Hsinchu, Taichung and southern Taiwan, Lee and Li is a key player in Taiwan. The firm has formed an alliance with Leaven IPR Agency in Beijing to develop the mainland China market. The firm handles new trademark applications for registration, renewal application, change of applicant’s/registrant’s name or other application/registration particulars, assignment recordation, license or sublicense recordation, etc. Senior counselor Cathy Ting and partners Ruey-Sen Tsai, Dennis Huang and Hsiu-Ru Chien are key contacts at the firm. The firm was named Taiwan trademark firm of the year at the 2023 Asia IP Awards in Singapore.  

Founded in Taipei in 1998 with the motto “reason” and “compassion”, Lee, Tsai and Partners has grown steadfastly as one of Taiwan’s multi-awarded IP and investment companies. Its founders, Chung-Teh Lee and Jaclyn Tsai, have previously worked as judges but now, through their firm, instead bring professionalism and prestige to the legal industry. A key contact is Partner Jane Tsai, who joined the firm in 2008, and has since represented and advised several companies in Taiwan on infringement and trademark issues. 

Lewis & Davis Patent Attorneys Office was founded by Lewis Ho, who specializes in chemistry, biotechnology and other related matters. The firm offers services including prosecuting and maintaining patents and trademarks, enforcement of IP rights, drafting and negotiating IP transfers and licensing agreements and providing portfolio analysis. Patent attorney Frank Lin handles matters including environmental engineering, chemicals and microorganisms. 

Lexcel Partners IP is a full-service IP management company led by CEO Jolene Wang. The firm has worked with TIPO to complete the Draft of Patent Examination Guidelines and to execute a number of patent and trademark international conferences, as well as to establish the Taiwan Intellectual Property Training Academy, a training institute for IP professionals. It works closely with sister firm Lexcel Partners, which offers a full-service corporate law experience. 

Founded in 1985 in Taipei, Li & Cai Intellectual Property Office provides one-stop service for international distribution of intellectual property rights. Apart from IP rights services of Taiwan applications, the firm also has many qualified China patent attorneys, as well as strategic alliance partners throughout China to assist Taiwanese businessmen in IP rights case services. The firm has a branch office in Washington where US patent attorneys draft applications and communicate with USPTO examiners. In the recent year, the firm has set up a new Japanese team led by deputy chief Claire Chou to assist applicants to pursue Japanese patent protection. 

Lin & Partners advises clients on contentious and non-contentious e-commerce, publishing, copyright, patent and trademark matters, for clients including companies in traditional industries as well as manufacturers, designers and suppliers in the IT industry. The firm represents a leading global semiconductor foundry in patent disputes against a NASDAQ-listed company, including litigation strategy and settlement negotiations with the opposing party. The firm also has a gaming and hospitality group that, among other things, advises the government on the creation of the legal and regulatory framework to govern casino gaming in Taiwan. Managing partner George Lin is a frequent public speaker both in Taiwan and overseas to explain the proposed legislation, investment and other regulatory requirements and related matters.  

Long River International Patent & Trademark Office is led by Patent Lin, the firm’s director, and vice director Der-Ming Hou, a representative partner. The firm boasts teams of patent engineers, patent attorneys, lawyers and a biological and pharmaceutical group. It is noted for its work in patent and trademark applications and maintenance; it also provides assistance in other legal matters, including unfair competition, protection of trade secrets and corporate law matters. Its Beijing office is known as Beijing Tongjun Law Firm. 

Louis International Patent Office has more than 100 members working in its technology, procedural and legal affairs departments. Managing partner Paul C.C. Chen specializes in e-commerce, mechanical, semiconductor and chemical fields. The firm’s technology department consists of around 70 patent agents and patent engineers on the three major technical fields of mechanical, chemical and electric and electronic engineering.  

Rich IP & Co is led by president Russel Horng, who has been invited by Taiwan’s Judicial Yuan to serve as an examiner for reviewing the qualification of judges of Taiwan’s IP Court since 2006. The firm is also a co-editor of Manual for the Handling of Applications for Patents, Designs and Trademarks throughout the World, also known as “The Brown Book”. Founded in 2005, the firm has expanded in 2021 by opening a second office in Taipei.  

Russin & Vecchi is a commercial law firm advising on corporate and commercial transactions, competition and anti-trust law, as well as IP matters. With 11 independent but affiliated offices across the world including Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Russia and the United States, the firm has practiced both prosecution and contentious trademark matters for over 25 years for its MNC clients and foreign law firms.  

With offices in the major cities of Taiwan including Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Chiayi and Kaohsiung, Saint Island International Patent & Law Offices has engaged in assisting domestic clients seeking IP protection not only domestically but also globally. The Taipei office in particular is well-staffed with lawyers, patent attorneys and engineers experienced in international IP practice and capable of meeting the needs of international clients in all aspects. Under its strategic alliance and collaboration with Chinese associate firms, such as Beijing Saint Island Intellectual Property Agency and Beijing Tie Chi Patent Firm, the firm provides one-stop services in the Greater China Region. Some examples of clients are Panasonic, Samsung and HTC. Managing partner Patrick I.C. Yun is a key contact.  

Sigma IPR provides customized advice and services to clients in a wide variety of industries. The firm is led by managing director Clarice Chen, who brings significant experience in chemicals and biochemical-related patent prosecution and holds a Master’s degree in chemical engineering. Chen has worked in the IP field for more than 30 years, including 15 years at one of Taiwan’s largest law firms, and is a key contact for patent dispute matters. The firm launched its new Sigma IPR brand in July 2021. 

Sundial Intellectual Property Law Firm handles patent and trademark prosecutions. Managing partner Edmund M.H. Chi specializes in patent matters such as prosecution, patentability, validity and infringement opinion, in fields including computer architecture, computer software, stereoscopic imaging, circuits and systems designs and computer peripheral systems.  

Tai E International Patent & Law Office has about 280 staff in all affiliates, and has developed into a highly respected international IP law firm providing a full range of services. The firm is specialized in IP prosecution, litigation and disputes, often involving cross-border elements. Its clientele includes entities in the life sciences as well as from pharmaceutical, automobile, electrical engineering, technology, and fashion industries. In 2021, the firm filed about 3,500 patent applications and about 6,000 trademark applications with the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office. Key IP practitioners include managing partner Fred C.T. Yen, partner and CEO Jerry C.Y. Lin and president Dewey W.C. Jeang.  

TALENT Attorneys at Law in Taipei is helmed by Alan C.H. Chen, who established the firm with lawyers who previously formed the contentious and legal team at Rich IP & Co. Now an independent entity, TALENT focuses on patent contentious matters (litigation and transactions). Major patent litigation in Taiwan undertaken by the firm includes the case regarding Nichia Corporation, in which it reversed the case by representing Everlight Electronics Co. For the Toshiba case with approximately US$66 million at stake, the firm represented the defendant and had the case reversed in the second instance at the IP Court. Other key practitioners at the firm include Kevin Ke and Jenny Huang. 

TIPLO Attorneys-at-Law, also known as Taiwan International Patent & Law Office, was founded in 1965 by M.S. Lin and a group of professional legal and technical associates specializing in intellectual property rights. The firm is currently staffed by 285 full-time members, many of whom are multilingual professionals fluent in English, Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese and other languages, who staff the firm’s patent, trademark and legal departments. The firm is a leader in patent and trademark prosecution, invalidation and opposition proceedings, infringement assessment and validity appraisal, and is well-noted for its IP enforcement prowess, particularly for infringement litigation and coordination of police raids. During director J.K. Lin’s tenure since 1997, he has set out to further streamline the hierarchy of the staff and adopted effective formulae leading to a significant quality improvement in the firm’s services. 

Top Team International Patent & Trademark Office handles the full range of intellectual property services, with a team of highly experienced patent attorneys, technical experts from a variety of fields and strong trademark and litigation teams. The team stands out in portfolio management matters and is highly regarded for cross-border patent prosecution work. Henry C.W. Hong is the firm’s president; CEO Peter Hong comes highly recommended for IP portfolio planning and IP strategy work. 

Taipei-based Tsai, Lee & Chen is particularly well-known for its work with high-tech patents. The firm has seen extensive growth in recent years, especially in its domestic patent department. The firm manages more than 30,000 patents and 18,000 trademarks worldwide. Victor S.C. Lee, Thomas Q.T. Tsai, Crystal J. Chen and Candy K.Y. Chen are top IP practitioners. The firm was named Taiwan patent firm of the year at the 2023 Asia IP Awards in Singapore. 

Tsar & Tsai is a full-service law firm founded in 1965 by Ruchin Tsar and Paul C. Tsai, and has grown to its present size of more than 70 professionals, including lawyers, trademark agents, patent attorneys and engineers. The firm has considerable experience and expertise on IP matters, including the protection of trade secrets. Partners Jennifer Lin and Joyce Ho are key contacts for IP matters. The firm has offices in Taipei and Hsinchu.  

The Union Patent Service Centre has offices in Taipei, Hong Kong and Tokyo, from which it specializes in handling patent and trademark applications in Taiwan. The firm is capable of corresponding in multiple languages; the highest concentration of its clientele is from Japan, the United States and Europe. Kingson Lai is a principal and founder of the firm. Principal Jeffrey Hsu is also a lecturer at National Taipei University of Technology and Shih Hsin University. 

Global law firm White & Case represents some of Taiwan’s most famous companies in IP and related matters. It successfully represented the world’s largest custom-made chip manufacturer based in Taiwan against another international semiconductor maker in a multi-patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation case, resulting in one of the largest settlements in ITC history.  

Wideband IP Office was established in 2005 by Albert W.H. Lee, a former patent examiner. The firm is a full-service IP firm, with extensive experience in IP prosecution, protection, enforcement and management. Jamie C.C. Lu is the firm’s managing partner.  

The portfolio of trademarks handled by Winkler Partners includes 20 of the top 100 global brands. Head of IP Peter Dernbach served on the International Trademark Association board of directors from 2015-17. He also served as a domain name dispute resolution panelist for the World Intellectual Property Organization Arbitration and Mediation Center. Christine Chen heads the employment and immigration practice and is experienced in employment, IP and commercial disputes. Other leading practitioners include Gary Kuo, whose has managed trademark portfolios for some of the world’s top brands. 

Wisdom International Patent & Law Office is one of Taiwan’s most prominent intellectual property law firms, which focuses on a wide range of economic sectors and technological domains, including biotechnology, chemistry, chemical engineering, and pharmaceutical sciences. Director George J.H. Huang, who is the first lawyer qualified to be a patent attorney in Taiwan and is an expert in chemistry, is the key contact.  

Most of the patent agents at Wood & Wu Patent and Trademark Office in Taipei were once patent examiners at the Taiwan Patent Office, giving them extensive experience with IP-related legal procedures and actions. The patent attorneys and agents at the firm engage primarily in work in the biochemical/chemical, mechanical/control and electronic/electrical sectors. President Justin Wu leads the team.  

Founded in 1951, World Patent and Trademark Law Office (WPTO), has built long-term strategic collaborations with more than one hundred top law firms throughout the world using the "integrity" management philosophy. Its area of expertise includes Computer Science and Information Engineering. Its key contact is Daniel Li, who is the chief senior counselor and a patent attorney. 

Your Team Law in Taichung is comprised of Yunding International Law Firm and Yunding International Intellectual Rights Firm. Lawyer Junyi Zhang and trademark agent Jinqiang Xu recently won a trademark case on behalf of Yoyogo, reversing the original result of an objection. Presiding lawyer Hongcun Lin devotes a large amount of his practice to IP litigation.  

Zoomlaw Attorneys-at-law is a full-service law firm with offices in Taipei and Hsinchu, as well as in Suzhou, China, featuring lawyers concentrating in the areas of intellectual property, cross-strait trade, international trade, environmental protection and litigation. Managing partner Kuo-Hua Fan, who once served as the chief legal officer at Gigabyte Technology, a prominent Taiwanese motherboard manufacturer, has been recognized as a member of the Asia IP IP Experts in Taiwan since 2021. A client who recommends the firm for its cross-strait and international work, calls Zoomlaw “very professional.” The firm is particularly strong in patent work in the electronics and circuits, semiconductor, communication, software and computer science, mechanical and consumer devices, chemicals and materials, biotech and biochemicals, and medical devices sectors.