According to the “Measures on Remission on Patent Annuities” promulgated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) on January 14, 2004, where the patentee is a natural person, a school1), or a medium/small enterprise2), a written application may be filed with Taiwan Intellectual Property Office (TIPO) to reduce each of the 1st to 3rd annuities by NT$800, and each of the 4th to 6th annuities by NT$1200 as follows:
| Official Fee (NT$) | Official Fee (NT$) | |
|---|---|---|
| Annuities | Before reduced payment | After reduced payment |
| 1st – 3rd | 2500 | 1700 |
| 4th – 6th | 5000 | 3800 |
| 7th– 9th | 9000 | 9000 |
| 10th –20th | 18000 | 18000 |
Remarks:
- 1) “School” in general refers to an educational institution recognized and approved by our Ministry of Education.
- 2) “Medium/small enterprises” refer to those companies which meet with the Recognized Standards for Medium or Small Enterprises promulgated by our Ministry of Economic Affairs, such as a manufacturer whose actual capital is less than NT$80 million (about US$2.5 million); and for those in the agricultural, fishery, and service industry areas, etc., the annual turnovers must be less than NT$100 million (about US$3.1 million).
In order to apply for the reduced fees, an application filed by the patentee, accompanied by a Power of Attorney, shall be submitted by the local patent agent/attorney to TIPO for approval. After the reduced fees are paid, the TIPO may, in the course of examination, request the applicant to submit relevant exhibits to prove eligibility, if necessary.
