Answer ... The Taiwan IP Office.

Answer ... The official filing fee for an invention patent application is around US$100. If priority is claimed, roughly US$90 will be additionally incurred.

Answer ... Formality issues aside, a patent application may be rejected if it lacks industrial applicability, novelty or inventive step.

Answer ... A patent applicant can take advantage of the Accelerated Examination Programme (AEP) or the Patent Prosecution Highway Programme (PPH), as follows:

• An AEP request may be filed under either of the following conditions:
• • A foreign counterpart has been allowed or issued; or
  • The applicant is planning to commercially practise the claimed invention.
• To request accelerated examination under the PPH, the Taiwanese application must claim priority to a corresponding US, Japanese, Korean, Spanish or Polish application, or a Patent Cooperation Treaty application designating the United States, Japan, Korea, Spain or Poland.

Answer ... A multiple dependent claim cannot serve as a basis for any other multiple dependent claims.

Answer ... Yes. An extension of patent term of a maximum of five years is possible for an invention patent that claims:

• a pharmaceutical or agrochemical composition;
• a method of manufacturing the pharmaceutical or agrochemical composition; or
• a specific use of the pharmaceutical or agrochemical composition.

Such pharmaceutical and agrochemical compositions do not include those for veterinary use.

Answer ... According to Article 24 of the Patent Law, an invention patent shall not be granted in respect of any of the following:

• animals, plants and essential biological processes for the production of animals or plants, except for processes for producing micro-organisms;
• diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical methods for the treatment of humans or animals; and
• inventions that are contrary to public order or morality.

On top of these restrictions, the eligible subject matter of a patentable utility model is further limited to the shape or structure of an article or a combination of articles.

A design patent is a novel and creative design of the shape, colour or pattern, or any combination thereof, of an article, either in whole or in part, with visual appeal. Eligible subject matter of a design patent also includes computer-generated icons and graphic user interfaces.

Answer ... Yes, an appeal is possible to the Petitions and Appeals Committee of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and, after that, to the Taiwan IP and Commercial Court.