IPR statistics for the first half of 2021

  Throughout the first half of 2021, Taiwan IPO had received a total of 35,264 applications for three kinds of patents and a total of 46,379 trademark applications, which represents 4% and 7% rise respectively compared with the same period of 2020.  The number of domestic patent applications soared mainly because there was a 21% increase of applications filed by large enterprises, among which TSMC stood out to account for 1,263 applications, outnumbering resident and non-resident applicants.  Among non-resident applicants, Qualcomm took the lead by filing a total of 454 invention patent applications.  Trademark applications, both domestic and foreign ones, hit the record high again by achieving 7% increase.  In general, patent and trademark applications went up steadily for the first half of 2021.  

1.  Patent applications 

(1)  Over 10% growth in number of invention applications filed by resident applicants 

There had been a total of 23,876 invention applications out of the total applications for three kinds of patents.  The numbers of domestic and foreign applications both saw their increase compared with the same period of 2020, with a growth rate of 13% in the applications filed by resident applicants, higher than that of those filed by non-resident applicants.  Also, the applications filed for utility model patents and design patents by non-resident applicants also rose by 22% and 5%, respectively.  

(2)  TSMC’s record high number of invention patent applications

7,650 invention patent applications came from domestic enterprises, accounting for 79% of the domestic invention patent applications and seeing a rise compared with the same period of 2020.  This is a growth that has been occurring to the first half year of the past five consecutive years, and the growth this year marks the highest upward rate over the past five years, which is mainly attributable to the 21% leap in the number of invention patent applications filed by large enterprises.  

Compared with other resident applicants, TSMC contributed a total of 1,263 invention applications, which not only reaches above 1,000 cases but also sets a new record for one single applicant.  With such a historical record, TSMC plays a pivotal role in Taiwan’s R&D innovation.  In the meantime, TSMC’s record signifies a 237% growth rate and its active and zealous attitude. For design patent applications, Coplus Inc. took the lead with 59 filing. 

(3)  National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University as the top applicant among universities 

Contrary to local enterprises, the number of invention patent applications filed by domestic universities or colleges dropped slightly in the first half of 2021, with National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University outshining other universities and colleges to claim the top honor by filing 59 invention patent applications, while Kun Shan University headed the ranking of private universities with 26 applications.  Besides, public universities saw a 4% climb in the number of invention patent applications compared with the same period of 2020, accounting for an upward percentage to 64%. 

(4)  Slight rise in number of invention patent applications filed by domestic research institutes

Overall invention patent applications filed by research institutes of Taiwan slightly moved up by 4% with ITRI filing a total of 101 invention patent applications to outnumber other institutes.  

(5)  CTBC Bank outshining other banks, insurance companies, and securities and future companies in patent applications 

The domestic banks, insurance companies, and securities and futures companies had contributed 72 invention patent applications and 267 utility model patent applications in the first half of 2021, and CTBC Bank outnumbered all other banks, insurance companies, and securities and futures companies by filing 19 invention patent applications and 66 utility model patent applications.  

(6)  Qualcomm and Harry Winston topping the list of non-resident applicants for invention and design patents 

Among the non-resident applicants, Japan was the top filing country with a total of 6,044 invention patent applications and 512 design patent applications filed thereby, while China filed the most utility model patent applications in 358 cases.  Among the non-resident applicants, Qualcomm surpassed other applicants by filing 454 invention patent applications but Coupang Corp. presented the highest growth rate of 442%.  Moreover, most of the design patent applications were contributed by Harry Winston with 97 cases.  

2.  Trademark applications 

(1)  Domestic trademark applications reaching a record high 

Taiwan IPO had received a total of 46,379 trademark applications (for 59,814 classes), which marks a 7% increase compared with the same period of 2020.  The numbers of domestic trademark applications and foreign trademark applications both went up, and the domestic trademark applications totaled 35,048 cases to set an all-time high.  

(2)  Resident applicants filing most of their applications in Class 35 and non-residents, in Class 9 

　　

In terms of classes of application, resident applicants filed their most applications for Class 35 (advertising, business management, retailing and wholesaling services, etc.) in 6,919 cases, which marks a 16% growth.  Among non-resident applicants, China outnumbered other countries by filing 2,333 applications in Taiwan.  And most of foreign applications were filed for Class 9 (computer and technology products, etc.) in 2,115 cases.  

The numbers of both domestic and foreign applications leapt.  Among resident applicants, Taiwan FamilyMart won the crown by filing 145 applications, followed by Uni-President of the food industry with 139 applications.  Among the non-resident applicants, the top and the second spots were taken by Bunny Girl (with 135 applications) and Ulao Group Limited (with 90 applications), respectively, which were not applicants in the same period of 2020.  

(3)  Agricultural food material being the top industry sector for trademark filing

With respect to the trademark applications by industry, there had been a total of 10,621 applications filed in the industry sector of “agricultural food materials”, which was much higher than other industries and greatly surpassed the numbers of trademark filings by non-resident applicants in each industry.  Non-resident applicants had filed the most applications in “Health” industry with 3,654 applications.  (Released 2021.07.27) 

/CCS