From the beginning of 2023, the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office (TIPO) will issue patent and trademark certificates in electronic form. In order to cut down on paper usage and delivery costs as well as offer the IP right holder convenience in document management, the initiative is part of the overall government plan to modernize office procedures and encourage sustainable practices. The applicant will have the option to choose either a paper or an electronic certificate upon paying issue fees. By opting for the electronic format, the applicant may still request a paper copy if later needed (but not vice versa). The process goes through the following several steps:
1. After receiving a notice of issuance, the applicant is instructed to download the e-certificate within 6 months from a specific webpage or in 5 days via the E-SET platform (an electronic document delivery system).
2. The e-certificate is issued as an encrypted PDF document with security measures, and there will be a code on each e-certificate.
3. By uploading the e-certificate to TIPO or scanning the code, it will be possible to quickly verify the document’s authenticity or even see the latest legal status of the associated patent or trademark right.
4. An e-certificate is also available upon re-issuance, recordation of patent assignment, inheritance, and trust. Read more