In Q1 2020, TIPO received a total of 17,156 patent applications (invention, utility model and design patents) as well as 22,385 trademark applications, marking an increase of 3% and 10% compared with the same period last year respectively. TSMC filed the most invention patent applications among all domestic applicants, while Qualcomm taking the first place as for foreign applicants. Particularly, the number of those filed by TSMC has even hit a new high. Invention patent applications filed by domestic enterprises increased by 28% and it is especially noted that those filed by domestic SMEs has now increased for twelve consecutive quarters.

1. Patent Applications

TIPO received a total of 11,888 invention patent applications. The numbers of applications filed by residents and non-residents both increased, comparing to the same period last year. It is worth mentioning that the applications filed by residents grew by 19%, which was the main factor contributing to significantly increasing number of invention patent applications. On the other hand, utility model and design patent applications appeared the downward trend.

Invention patent applications filed by domestic enterprises (3,821) were up by 28% compared to the same period last year and accounted for 81% of all patent applications filed. Also, invention patent applications filed by large enterprises and SMEs saw a growth of 31% and 16% respectively. Comparing to the same quarter and same period last year, those filed by SMEs have increased for twelve straight quarters even the Covid-19 coronavirus is now still effecting the world.

As for domestic applicants, TSMC filed the most applications (678), setting a record high and outnumbering other domestic applicants for eight straight quarters, while ACER ranking No.1 in filing design patent applications (21 cases).

Comparing to the same period last year, invention patent applications filed by domestic colleges remained stable; among them, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University topped the list with 30 cases. Moreover, those filed by domestic research institutions were up by 14%; of these, ITRI filed the most applications (60).

As for the applications filed by non-residents, Japan led with 3,376 invention patent applications and 259 design patent applications, while Mainland China filing the most utility model patent applications (185). However, as for the patent applicants, Qualcomm and Harry Winston topped the list of filing 215 invention patents applications and 42 design patent applications respectively.

2. Trademark Applications

22,385 (28,827 by class) trademark applications were filed and the number increase by 10%, comparing to the same period last year. Trademark applications filed by residents and those filed by non-residents all went up by 13% and 3% respectively.

In terms of applications (by class), resident applicants filed the most applications (3,205) in class 35 (advertising, business operations, retail and wholesale services, etc.), while non-resident applicants from Mainland China filing the most applications (983 out of 1,029 applications) in Class 9 (computer and technology products, etc.).

In terms of resident applicants, “Uni-President” and “KING CAR GROUP” ranked the top 10 applicants both in Q1 2020 and 2021, while “BUNNY GIRL LIMITED”, which is never on the list in Q1 2020 and “FULL COMFORT CO., LTD.” ranking top 1 and top 2 respectively.

In terms of industries, 5,255 trademark applications were filed by the domestic agri-food industry, outnumbering all other industries, while the foreign healthcare industry filing the most applications (1,761).

• Publish Date : 2021-05-24
• Update : 2021-05-24
• Organization : International Legal Affairs Office
• Visitors : 496