TIPO and EUIPO ink MOU for IPR cooperation

　On January 12, 2018, TIPO and EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office) signed an MOU for bilateral IPR cooperation, unveil a new chapter for two sides’ IPR cooperation. TIPO and EUIPO join hands to promote cooperation in such areas as integration of information tools, personnel training, expert meetings, and optimal harmonization of practices.   Both sides will also exchanges opinions with respect to international IPR issues and their respective reformation of IPR-related laws and practices, so as to reinforce IP mechanism and services.  

　

　The EU has been Taiwan’s important trading partner for a long period of time.  There have been steady case numbers of trademark and patent applications filed by Taiwan applicants with EUIPO (604 trademarks applications and 677 community design applications in 2016) or filed by EU applicants with TIPO (3,556 trademarks applications and 1,149 design patent applications in 2016) in recent years.  The number of design patent applications has an apparent growth in particular.  Under this MOU, TIPO and EUIPO will strengthen their mutual understanding and cooperation to bring about substantial benefits to applicants and industries on both sides.  In addition, through mutual cooperation on all aspects, TIPO and EUIPO will also develop a more solidified partnership to create a well-rounded environment for IPR protection and provide better services to applicants.  (February 2018)  

/CCS