Taiwan IPO releases IPR statistics for 2021

　Taiwan IPO had received a total of 72,613 patent applications throughout year 2021, which marks 1% increase.  Among the overall patent applications, those filed for invention patents grew by 5% to 49,116 cases, while those for utility model patents and design patents diminished by 10% and 4% to 15,796 cases and 7,701 cases, respectively.  On the other hand, trademark registration applications filed throughout 2021 totaled 95,917 cases to hit a record high number since 1999 when Taiwan IPO was founded.  As to examination efficiency, the average disposal pendency was 14.0 months for invention patent applications and decreased to 6.2 months for trademark applications, which marks the efficient and good examination service to applicants.  

1.  Domestic invention patent applications attaining record high since 2014 with similar growth also occurring to industry and research institutes  

There were 19,547 applications filed by resident-applicants for invention patents, setting a record high since 2014, which was mainly attributable to a 6% rise in the number of applications filed by corporate-applicants (the applications filed by large enterprises alone increased by 9%) and marked a rise for five consecutive years.  Meanwhile, applications filed by research institutes also experienced a growth of 2%.  On the contrary, the applications for utility model patents and for design patents amounted to 14,543 cases and 3,534 cases, respectively, both of which were down by 12% and 10% from last year, respectively, as a result of the slip by 8%~10% in the number of applications filed by corporations and also a drop by 16% in the number of applications filed by individuals.  The applications filed by non-resident applicants moved up by 7% with 29,569 cases for invention patents, by 13% with 1,253 cases for utility model patents, and by 2% with 4,167 cases for design patents.  

2.  Japan holding onto the top spot for non-resident patent applications 

　In terms of the nationality of the non-resident applicants, Japan continued to sit comfortably at the first place by filing 13,324 overall applications, surpassing the US that contributed 7,986 applications and China that filed 4,253 applications.  Moreover, South Korea presented the highest growth rate at 27% among the top five countries by filing a total of 2,388 applications.  The analysis by types of patent applications shows that Japan also led in the number of invention and design patent applications, while China surpassed other countries by filing the most non-resident applications for utility model patents.  

3.  Number of overall trademark registration applications reaches the record high due to the climb in the counts of resident and non-resident applications

　　

The total trademark registration applications filed throughout year 2021 amounted to 95,917 cases (covering 123,217 classes), growing by 2% and comprising 73,374 cases filed by resident applicants and 22,543 cases by non-resident applicants, both of which rose by 2% and 3%, respectively.  

  Among the top five filing countries (or regions), China remained at the top spot by filing 4,929 applications with 8% growth.  Also, the US jumped to the 2nd position by filing 4,032 applications, up 6%, to outnumber Japan, which filed 3,437 applications, down 14% from last year.  

4.  Most of resident applicants’ and non-resident applicants’ trademark applications filed for Class 35 and Class 9, respectively 

　Breakdown by trademark classification, Class 35 (advertisements and business operation) topped the list with 15,034 applications, which marked a yearly increase of 13%.  Among resident corporate applicants, Uni-President headed the list with 567 applications, followed by Taiwan Familymart with 180 applications and King Car Food with 147 applications.

　On the other hand, most of the non-resident applicants’ trademark applications were filed for registration under Class 9 (computer and technology products) in 4,502 cases, while the applications filed for Class 42 (scientific and technological services) grew most strikingly at 20%.  Also, among foreign corporate applicants, Bunny Girl topped the list by filing 135 applications, ahead of Xiaomi with 132 applications and Shiseido with 107 applications.  

5.  Disposal pendency for patent and trademark applications remaining stable and reasonable to be in support of businesses’ portfolio development

  Taiwan IPO has been going full on to maintain examination efficiency, and as a result, the average disposal pendency is kept less than 14 months for invention patent applications.  As to trademark applications, the average disposal pendency fell to 6.2 months to go down to the record low since 2009.  Moreover, the average pending applications for both invention patents and trademarks remain at about 50,000 cases, so as to assist businesses in acquiring IP rights and developing their portfolios.  (Released 2022.02.15)  

/CCS