IP Fridays - your intellectual property podcast about trademarks, patents, designs and much more Rolf Claessen and Ken Suzan

We are celebrating the 10th birthday of our podcast IP Fridays! Join us in Atlanta on Monday evening, the 20th May 2024 and meet us in person! Details will be posted on our website ipfridays.com and on social media!  We had started the podcast at the 2014 INTA Annual Meeting in Hongkong so we thought it would be a good idea to celebrate the 10th anniversary also during an INTA Annual Meeting!







In this episode of the IP Fridays podcast, we were joined by three experts from Wisdom International Patent and Law Office in Taiwan: founder George J.H. Huang, patent attorney Sandy Huang, and international affairs manager Zoe Kwong.







The discussion began with an overview of the latest guidelines for computer software patents in Taiwan, which now require that the software significantly utilizes hardware resources to be eligible for patent protection. This marks a departure from older guidelines and incorporates elements from Japanese regulations.







The experts also compared patent eligibility criteria between Taiwan and China, noting significant differences. In China, the focus is on using technical means to solve technical problems according to natural laws, which can often lead to challenges in proving the technical nature of inventions, particularly those that might be considered as business methods or mathematical rules.







Moving to trademarks, it was noted that Taiwan operates under a “first to file” system and does not require evidence of use at the time of application. This is particularly important for overseas applicants to understand, as early filing can prevent issues with trademark squatting. Taiwan does not participate in the Madrid Protocol, so international applicants must file directly in Taiwan.







Recent legislative updates were also covered, highlighting the new accelerated examination process for trademarks in Taiwan, which can significantly shorten the registration timeline. However, this process is best suited for clear-cut cases, as complex or disputed marks may still face lengthy examinations.







The episode concluded with a look at changes to the trademark agent system in Taiwan, which now requires agents to pass an exam and undergo annual training to ensure they maintain a high standard of professional knowledge.







Overall, the podcast provided a comprehensive look into the intellectual property landscape in Taiwan, offering key insights and strategic advice for navigating patent and trademark issues in the region.







Here is the full transcript:







We have three guests today on the IP Friday’s podcast from Wisdom International Patent and Law Office, a law firm located in Taiwan. They are Mr. George J.H. Huang, Ms. Sandy Huang, and Ms. Zoe Kwong.







George J.H. Huang is the founder of Wisdom International Patent and Law Office. Having over 27 years of experience in the intellectual property field, George is skilled at handling patent, trademark, and design matters, from drafting and prosecution to cancellation opposition and other contentious work. George has also been individually ranked and recognized as a recommended individual in the IAM Patent 1000, the WTR 1000, and the Asia IP Rankings. He is the author of two Japanese books, Taiwan Trademark Practice Guide and Taiwan Patent Practice Guide, which are highly praised by in-house counsels and critics.







Sandy Huang graduated from the National Taiwan University with a master’s degree in chemical engineering. She is a registered patent attorney and her practice focuses on patent drafting, prosecution, disputes,

Clemens Heusch















Interview with Vice President and Head of Global Litigation and Disputes at Nokia Clemens Heusch – Patent Battle Nokia vs. Oppo – Unified Patent Court – Standard Essential Patents at the EUIPO – Episode 150 – IP Fridays

Celeste Butera















Challenges Enforcing Trademarks Online and Cybersquatting – Interview with Celeste Butera – UPC Caseload – USPTO AI Guidance – IP Fridays – Episode 149







Celeste Butera Profile

Interview With the Very Busy UPC Judge András Kupecz – Get the Perspective of a Judge at the Unified Patent Court – EU Lawmakers Vote for Rules Setting Up a Body at the EUIPO To Set SEP Royalty Rates – IP Fridays – Episode 148

Steven Adkins















Interview With Steven Adkins – Using the ITC to Your Advantage – Section 337 Investigations – UPC Statistics – Episode 147 – IP Fridays







Find more information about Steven Adkins here:







https://btlaw.com/en/people/steve-adkins







https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-adkins-2228841a/

Interview With Mark Vallone – Chief Patent Counsel of IBM Americas – Patent Strategy – UPC – AI as an Inventor – Lessons Learned – Challenges – IP Fridays Podcast – Episode 146