TIPO Actively Promoting Electronic Filing of Patent and Trademark Applications.

E080908Y1・E080908Y2 Oct. 2008（E107）

The long-awaited IPR e-filing system developed by TIPO commenced operation on 26 August 2008. To encourage electronic filings by IPR holders, TIPO provides discount on electronic filings by reference to the relevant policy adopted in the USA, Japan, Europe, Australia and Korea. There is a TWD300 discount on each trademark application and TWD600 on each patent application. (Please see the table below.) However, the applicant of each new application filed electronically must transmit the complete specification or drawings in electronic form in order to be eligible to enjoy the discount.

The on-line filing system is inspired by the practice promoted by the WTO. The main goal is to make a change to the conventional form and process of filing applications by adopting the XML as the universal standard. WTO has urged its members to cause their patent authority to adopt only electronic filing after 2005 with a view to active exchanges of information on patents.

In order to be able to file applications electronically, the applicant and its attorney each must log on TIPO’s e-filing network to (a) register as a member; (b) upload to register their electronic signature (certification or signature specimen); and (c) download/install the necessary software.

Application for	Fee rate
	Paper filing	Electronic filing
Invention patent	TWD3,500	TWD600 discount on each application
Utility model	TWD3,000
Design patent	TWD3,000

	Ordinary (paper) filing				Electronic filing
Fee rate	Trademark / Group mark	Designated to use on goods under Class 1 ~ Class 34	With 20 or less items of goods in same class designated	TWD3,000 for each class designated	TWD5,000 for each class designated
			With 31~61 items of goods in the same class designated	TWD5,000 for each class designated TWD300 discount on each application
			With 61 or more items of goods in the same class designated	TWD9,000 for each class designated
		Designated to use in services under Class 35 ~ Class 45	TWD3,000 for each class designated
	Group mark or certification mark	TWD5,000 per application