Newsletter
The Intellectual Property Office has released the "Top 100 Patent Rankings for 2024" and the "Overview of Patent and Trademark Applications for 2024"
The Intellectual Property Office has announced the Top 100 Patent Rankings for 2024 (https://www.tipo.gov.tw/tw/cp-85-993587-5d85c-1.html) and the Overview of Patent and Trademark Applications for 2024 (https://www.tipo.gov.tw/tw/cp-87-997134-ba95a-1.html). From the above articles, we can roughly outline the recent developments in intellectual property rights in Taiwan concerning foreign applicants, domestic applicants, and academic research institutions.
I. Foreign applicants:
A. Invention patents
1. The semiconductor industry continues to receive significant attention, with the American company Applied Materials, Inc. and the Dutch company ASML Netherlands B.V. ranking among the top foreign patent applicants. Notably, Applied Materials has reclaimed the top position. Meanwhile, South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has fallen to second place, but its application volume remains substantial. These companies are leaders in the semiconductor equipment and manufacturing sectors, highlighting Taiwan's critical role in the semiconductor industry and attracting major international firms to actively engage in research and development and patent strategies in Taiwan.
2. Materials science and the chemical industry are equally noteworthy, including companies such as Nitto Denko Corporation and Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. from Japan, as well as Lam Research Corporation from the United States. These companies hold a leading advantage in the fields of electronic materials and chemicals, reflecting the demand and development potential for high-tech materials in the Taiwanese market.
3. The electronics and technology industries also demonstrate strong influence, with Qualcomm Incorporated from the United States and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. from mainland China leading the way. This further confirms Taiwan's attractiveness in the electronics manufacturing and communications sectors, making it a strategic location for international companies to compete for positioning.
B. Trademarks
1. Computer and technology products (Class 9) remain the most applied trademark category by foreign companies, indicating that international enterprises place a high value on trademark protection for technology products sold in the Taiwanese market.
2. Notably, the trademark application volumes for categories such as cosmetics and cleaning agents (Class 3), clothing and footwear (Class 25), as well as leather products, artificial leather, and bags (Class 18) have all shown significant double-digit growth, reflecting foreign brands' optimism about the development potential of the Taiwanese consumer goods market.
II. Domestic applicants:
A. Invention patents
1. The semiconductor industry remains the most prominent field, with TSMC maintaining its absolute lead in patent applications, ranking first in domestic invention patent applications for nine consecutive years. Nanya Technology Corporation and United Microelectronics Corporation also rank among the top, with their application volumes reaching new highs. In addition, MediaTek Inc. is also an important patent applicant.
2. The optoelectronics industry also holds a significant position, with AU Optronics Corporation and Innolux Corporation both ranking highly, and Innolux's patent application volume reaching a record high, demonstrating its continuous innovation in optoelectronic technology.
3. The electronic components and information technology industries exhibit strong innovation capabilities, with companies such as Inventec Corporation, Realtek Semiconductor Corporation, Acer Inc., and Foxconn Technology Group continuously deepening their engagement in electronic manufacturing and OEM fields, further solidifying Taiwan's competitive advantage in the global industrial chain.
B. Trademarks
1. Advertising, business management, and retail wholesale services (Class 35) are the most applied trademark categories in the country, reflecting the vigorous development of local business activities in Taiwan and the high importance that companies place on brand establishment and protection.
2. The trademark application volume in the food and beverage-related industries is also impressive, with a significant number of applications for restaurants and accommodations (Class 43), as well as for coffee, tea, pastries, etc. (Class 30). This indicates fierce competition in Taiwan's dining market and a growing awareness among businesses regarding trademark protection.
3. It is noteworthy that the trademark application volume for categories such as cosmetics and cleaning agents (Class 3) and pharmaceuticals (Class 5) continues to grow, highlighting the market vitality and development potential of these industries.
III. Academic research institutions
A. Invention patents
1. In terms of research institutions, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has maintained its leading position with a significant number of patent applications, having consecutively held the championship for 18 years since 2007, demonstrating its key influence in technology research and development as well as patent strategy. Additionally, the Metal Industries Research and Development Centre and the National Atomic Research Institute are also among the top 100, highlighting their research and development capabilities in related fields.
2. In terms of universities, National Cheng Kung University has ranked first in the number of invention patent applications for three consecutive years. National Taiwan University, National Tsing Hua University, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University also rank among the top, indicating that these institutions are quite active in research and development activities in the fields of engineering, science, and technology.
3. Overall, among the three types of patents, the Taipei City University of Science and Technology has ranked first in patent applications for five consecutive years, with a majority of its applications being for utility patents. This reflects that different schools may have varying focuses on patent types. Additionally, Chang Gung University, under the Chang Gung Foundation for Education, has shown outstanding performance in the field of design patents, demonstrating the university's competitiveness in innovative design.
According to the statistical data for 2024 released by the Intellectual Property Office, Taiwan's intellectual property activities reflect an economic structure centered around high-tech manufacturing, while also showcasing companies' focus on the development of brands in consumer goods and services. The proactive positioning of foreign applicants in the semiconductor and specific consumer goods sectors, along with domestic enterprises' innovative research and development in the semiconductor and optoelectronics industries, as well as the brand protection efforts of local service industries, collectively outline the main characteristics of Taiwan's intellectual property development.