Taiwan: new provisions for novelty grace period

As of May 1, 2017, the amendments to the provisions for novelty grace period for patents have taken effect in Taiwan.

The revised Taiwanese Patent Act extends the novelty grace period for patents from six to twelve months. Additionally, the amendments provide broader scope of disclosures which fall under the requirements for claiming grace period. Previously, an invention could only be disclosed for experimental purposes, in printed publications, at exhibitions sponsored or recognized by the Taiwanese government, or if disclosure took place against or without the applicant’s consent. In the meantime, now it also includes any intentional or unintentional disclosure by the applicant, be it disclosure at a conference or on the internet or publication in a catalog, etc.

As always, we will be glad to provide you with more information on patent registration in Taiwan in our applicant’s guide. Also, to get actual quotes for IP rights registration in any country of your interest, feel free to visit our quotation system.

Author: Lynda Miller