TIPO to Issue Electronic Trademark Certificates Starting January 2023

On 16 November 2022, the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office ("TIPO") announced that applicants will be offered the option of receiving electronic trademark or patent certificates from 1 January 2023. This paperless option will enable applicants to receive and maintain certificates with more ease. Portable and easy to display, electronic certificates can reduce paper use and delivery costs. By offering a wider array of digital services for managing intellectual property rights and aligning itself with international practices, the TIPO is taking a step towards sustainability.

Applicants can choose whether to receive a paper or electronic certificate when paying the trademark registration fee. The format and text of the electronic or paper trademark certificate will be the same as those of the current trademark certificate; the official fee for trademark registration remains unchanged. The electronic trademark certificate will employ a fraud-proof design utilizing the TIPO's certificate with digital signature and including an authentication QR code linking to the TIPO's webpage. By uploading the electronic certificate or scanning the QR code, applicants can quickly verify the certificate's validity and view the most up-to-date information on the trademark's status.

For an official fee of NT$500, applicants choosing an electronic trademark certificate may apply for a paper copy for certification purposes. However, those who choose a paper certificate as the original may not later apply for an electronic copy.

Given applicants are permitted to apply for a paper copy after receiving an electronic trademark certificate as the original, we will apply for electronic trademark certificates for all clients starting from 1 January 2023, in order to protect our clients' rights and interests.