GUIDELINES FOR FILING DESIGN APPLICATIONS IN TAIWAN

Taiwan Intellectual Property Office (TIPO) published on November 22, 2007 “Guidelines for Preparing the Specification and Drawings for Design Applications in Taiwan”, and the highlights are as listed below:

1. The design application must be filed with the specification and drawings. The specification may contain description concerning the usage and features regarding the outer shape of the design, and the drawings must clearly disclose the claimed design. Also, one application can cover only one design. (Refer to Section 1 of “Guidelines”.)
2. Drawings showing the six-view (front view, rear view, left side view, right side view, top view and bottom view), and also the three-dimensional view (perspective view) of the design must be accompanied with the application. However, drawings may be omitted if (1) one of the required views is identical with another; (2) the drawings are mirror image to each other; and/or (3) the side views show no new features. Further, words, trademarks, logos, bar codes, etc. shown in the drawings may be disclaimed. (Refer to Section 2 of “Guidelines”.)
3. Informal drawings may be used for filing the design application initially, but formal drawings must be supplemented. Photographs or computer graphics may also be used in substitution of formal drawings; however, the object shown in these photographs or computer graphics must be in the same scale with a clean, mono-colored background in order not to cause confusion or misidentification. Also, if colored photographs or computer graphics are used, the gray scale must be clear enough so that they could be reproduced for print in the official Patent Gazette. The margin on each drawing sheet must be at least 2 cm. (Refer to Section 3 of “Guidelines”.)
4. If color is to be claimed in the design application, drawings showing the color applied on the design must be supplemented, and the industrial color code number must be designated. (Refer to Section 4 of “Guidelines”.)
5. Auxiliary drawings, such as sectional view, partial enlarged view, unitary view, reference view, and views showing different states (or usages) of the design can also be supplemented if needed. (Refer to Section 5 of “Guidelines”.)
6. Shading lines showing the contour of the design may be used in the drawings. Other drawing methods showing transparent materials, wood, leather, etc. may also be used. (Refer to Section 6 of “Guidelines”.)