Fast-Track Trademark Examination Mechanism officially goes into effect as of May 1, 2021 after its successful pilot run

　According to a press release issued by the Taiwan IPO, the fast-track trademark examination mechanism has been implemented for one year on a trial basis since its launch on May 1, 2020.  Until February 2021, Taiwan IPO had received more than 49,000 trademark applications eligible for fast-track examination since the introduction of the mechanism, and fast tracked applications accounted for around 58%~62% of all applications in average every month, more than non-fast tracked ones, which manifests that trademark applicants have been fully aware of and taking advantage of the new mechanism.

　The new mechanism makes use of the currently available e-filing system of Taiwan IPO and encourages applicants to fully prepare and submit all required documents and official fees at the time of filing.  By so doing, trademark examination process would be expedited to cope with 100,000 and more applications (or categories) filed every year in the past five years as the number of applications is still going upward year by year.  Besides, the fast-tract mechanism enables applicants to receive the result of examination earlier, which ends in a win-win situation.  Throughout the year of trial implementation of the new mechanism, the percentage taken by the fast tracked applications mostly stayed at around 60%, and the first office action pendency for fast tracked applications is 1.4~1.6 months faster and earlier than that for general applications.  The pilot program of the new mechanism turns out successful with great efficacy, and hence, it officially went into practice as of May 1, 2021.  

　On the other hand, for those applicants whose applications are not eligible for fast-track examination and who have pressing need to complete their trademark registrations, the Taiwan IPO has introduced another fast-track system operated on fee-charging basis in the draft amendment to the Trademark Act, and the draft amendment is now under examination by the Taiwan Executive Yuan and will be submitted to the Taiwan Legislative Yuan for deliberation.  (Released 2021.04.30)  

/CCS