It has been over a year since TIPO conducted a pilot run for the fast-track trademark examination program on May 1, 2020. More than 49,000 fast-track trademark applications were filed until February, 2021. The average number of fast track applications filed per month accounted for about 60% of the number of new applications filed, showing that applicants have fully understood the fast-track mechanism and made good use of it.

TIPO hopes that the fast track program will encourage the applicants to utilize e-filing system, use the names of the designated good or services listed in the e-filing system, have all required documents sent out to TIPO and pay the fees soon after submitting the applications. Thus, the processing time for the applications can be shorten at TIPO and speed up the examination process. The average first official action is about 1.5 months shorter than that of the applications not filed under the program. The results shows that the average first office action is significantly shortened, so TIPO decided to have the program implemented from May 1, 2021.

However, for applicants who cannot use the fast-track mechanism but urgently need to obtain trademark rights, TIPO has introduced a fee-based accelerated examination mechanism to its draft amendment to the Trademark Act, which is under review at the Executive Yuan. TIPO hopes to adopt diversified measures to fulfill the needs of applicants.

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