Page 40 - 2018 Annual Report Taiwan Intellectual Property Office

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Optimizing Trademark Examination Quality
In order to increase the number of trademark disposals and improve examination quality, TIPO is committed to taking the following measures:
Proposals for Improving Trademark Examination Quality
• Trademark Examination Quality Review Mechanism
Supervisors continue to use online dashboard to monitor and rectify examination processes. Examination work by novice examiners is sampled and supervised more frequently. Review results are sent to examiners to improve examination quality and consistency.
• Consultation Meeting on Trademark Examination Quality
To streamline trademark examination process, TIPO carried out a comprehensive review of existing trademark laws and examination practices to identify procedural and practical problems. TIPO conducted empirical research on issues including "mechanism of fast track trademark examination," "mechanism of trademark disclaimer," and "mechanism of management and competence certification of trademark agents." To seek broader feedback, TIPO in September held a consultation meeting with trademark professional practitioners on these issues, and in December held another meeting on the feasibility of amending the procedures for trademark administrative remedies. Relevant information is available at "Information Page for Amendment of Trademark Law" on TIPO’s website.
• Trademark Examiners’ Workshops
In order to strengthen consistency of trademark examination and professional knowledge of examiners, TIPO regularly holds trademark examination review meetings to focus on the latest trademark issues, new developments of goods/services and commercial activities, and noteworthy matters in examination. In 2018, issues discussed in the workshops include duplicated applications for trademark registration, guidelines of examining trademarks containing red cross signs, and key revisions to the Examination Guidelines on Procedural Examination of Applications for Trademark Registration.
• Review and Analysis of Revoked Dispute and Rejection Cases
TIPO continued to review and analyze dispute and rejection cases revoked annually by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the IP Court. Analysis reports on the grounds of revocation were written and presented during monthly trademark examination review meetings, as well as in the Information Sessions on Trademark Laws in 2018 to facilitate thorough communication with the public.
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IPR EXAMINATIONS AND SERVICES