The Amended Provisions of the Patent Law Will Be Enforced in July 1, 2004. There Will Be Prolongation of Patent Term and a 20% Cut in the Annual Patent Fee.

The Executive Yuan in Taiwan determined that the amended Patent Law will be enforced on July 1, 2004, and the systems, such as objection procedures, will be abolished. The Ministry of Economic Affairs was scheduled to promulgate the affiliated rules of the prolongation of patent term on the 17^th. Future invention related to medical and insecticide products are able to apply for the prolongation of patent right term if the permitted time for patent application is longer. Moreover, 20% of the annual patent fee will be reduced so as to urge the small and medium enterprises, schools, and natural persons to enhance the innovative development in the technology industry in Taiwan with their patent invention. The amendment to Patent Law passed by the Legislative Yuan in January involved many revolutionary changes in the present systems, including the adoption of the “examination of form" for new utility models. The objection procedures were abolished, but the cancellation procedure was retained so as to shorten the time for the obtainment of patent right. (2003.12)

CYJ/CCS