Taiwan: intellectual property rights arrangements

Priority claims

Taiwan became a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on 1 January 2002. As a result, arrangements for priority claims between Taiwan and the United Kingdom in respect of intellectual property rights apply under WTO rules. These arrangements supersede the May 2000 reciprocal arrangement between the two countries.  That arrangement recognised priority rights in respect of patents and registered designs.

Patents for inventions relating to new micro-organisms

The May 2000 reciprocal arrangement allowed for:

  • the receiving of applications and granting of patents for inventions relating to new micro-organisms.  These must be filed by natural or legal persons of Taiwan or the United Kingdom (UK);
  • the recognition for the purpose of patent disclosure, of micro-organisms deposited in accordance with the relevant applicable UK or Taiwan provisions; and
  • the extension of the protection conferred by a patent for certain technologies for a maximum of 5 years after the expiry of the normal, full term of that patent.  This again should be in accordance with the relevant applicable UK or Taiwan provisions.

These arrangements remain in place.

More information on the international arrangements is available on the following pages: