TIPS^®  Taiwan Intellectual Property Special

The main purposes thereof are as follows:

1. To promote extensive, close and friendly commercial, cultural and other relations between the two countries;

2. To facilitate the expansion of trade and commerce on a non-discriminatory basis between the two countries;

3. To provide adequate and effective protection of industrial property rights,
particularly in respect of patents, trademarks (including service marks)industrial designs and patents for design on a reciprocal basis between the two; and

4. To recognize the benefits derived from the reciprocal protection and enforcement of copyright between the two countries.

Up to now, there are ten (10) countries (i.e., Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, United States, France, Liechtenstein, United Kingdom, Austria and New Zealand) that have a reciprocal understanding with Taiwan to claim priority for patent applications in Taiwan. And there are five (5) countries (United States, Australia, France, Austria and New Zealand) as well as European Community that have a reciprocal understanding with Taiwan to claim priority for trademark or service mark applications in Taiwan.