Heading South: Exploring IP Protection Strategies with Experts from Southeast and South Asian Countries
政府推動新南向政策以來，東協與南亞國家的快速經濟發展，逐漸成為國人注目焦點，對於尋求新市場與生產基地的台商，尤其具有吸引力。為了幫助有意南向發展的企業，制定市場策略時能充分考慮智慧財產保護、完整布局與加值發展等面向，經濟部智慧局與專利師公會攜手，共同主辦「2019年 新南向智慧財產研討會」，邀請四國智慧局專家、及六國專利代理人來台，就各國專利法制、審查要點、專利申請與權利保護的落實等焦點議題，提供精闢介紹及面對面實務交流。
The booming economy and rapid market growth in the southeast and south Asian countries have become the focus of public attention in Taiwan since the government announced the “New Southbound Policy”, one of Taiwan’s most ambitious international outreach programs ever. The related topics are particularly attractive to businesses exploring new markets or looking for new manufacturing bases.
To help interested businesses getting ready for the southbound markets and able to align market plans with overall consideration of their IP protection strategies, TIPO (The Intellectual Property Office) and TWPAA (Taiwan Patent Attorneys Association) organized a seminar on “IP Landscape in New Southbound Countries” and invited the intellectual property office officials and patent attorneys, from Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and India, to give incisive introductions to the current patent system each country, including application requirements, patent examination practices, the time limit for OA response, patent term, IP enforcement systems, etc.
演討會27日上午在臺灣大學霖澤館國際會議廳正式開幕，智慧局洪淑敏局長致詞時，首先感謝四國智財局官員、及六國專利師公會代表來台參加研討會。她表示，為了積極推動政府新南向政策，智慧局除了在局網建置「東南亞及南亞國家智慧財產權益維護專區」，提供這個區域重要國家的智財制度、申請程序、執法機關及救濟管道等資訊；也積極推動與新南向國家的雙邊面對面交流，先於2017年及2018年舉辦廣受各界好評的東南亞智慧財產研討會，今年更與專利師公會合作擴大研討會規模，邀請到多國智慧局官員及專利代理人，分別從當地國專利法制、審查實務及專利申請與保護應注意事項等不同面向進行探討。
The one-and-a-half-day seminar began on August 27 at Tsai Lecture Hall, College of Law, National Taiwan University in Taipei. TIPO’s Director General Hong Shu-min Hong Shu-min, in her welcome remarks, indicated that TIPO has been eagerly promoting bilateral exchanges with our neighbors in the region on IP matters since the launch of the New Southbound Policy. For example, the office has set up a specialized section on its official website to introducing IP regimes, IP application processes, law enforcement agencies, and legal relief mechanisms in Southeast Asian and South Asian countries to Taiwanese businesses. TIPO also held seminars on the IP Landscape in Southeast Asian Countries in 2017 and 2018 to further mutual understanding between Taiwan and the region. Both events were very well received. For this third year, TIPO worked with TWPAA in expanding the focus to a wider scope and invited patent attornies to share their insights on IP matters of concern when investing in the new southbound countries.
臺灣經濟的下一步，一定要考慮到東南亞以及印度市場。
Better Use of Local IP Regimes Creates win-win benefits
她說：「希望透過研討會面對面交換意見及分享經驗的方式，協助我國人深入瞭解東南亞及南亞重要國家的智慧財產保護情形，並期盼我國企業在赴新南向國家經商或投資時，能善用當地國的智慧財產制度，擬定最適切的智財策略，以充分發揮企業優勢，與東南亞及南亞的夥伴共同推動新南向地區經濟發展與企業獲利的雙贏目標。」
“With this support, we believe that our businesses will be able to make better use of local IP regimes, come up with better IP portfolio plans, and increase their competitive edge when investing in the region. I am certain that this will create a win-win situation that allows for economic development and greater revenues for Taiwan and our New Southbound partners.” said Ms. Hong.
接著致詞的專利師公會林宗宏理事長，先以馬來（印尼）語、泰語、越南語、印度語問候遠道而來的貴賓，他提及學生時代跟東南亞國家僑生建立的溫馨友誼，一直延續至今，多次出差及旅遊經驗，也留下許多美好回憶。從當前全球局勢來看，前進東南亞以及印度對台商而言，已經是必定選項了，政府適時提出「新南向政策」，正反映臺灣經濟的下一步，一定要考慮到東南亞以及印度市場。
TWPAA Chairman Tony Lin also gave his welcome remarks. He started by saying “hello” in English, Malaysian (Indonesian), Thai, Vietnamese, Hindi, and Chinese as well as how friendly people, indigenous cultures and marvelous landscapes in Southeast and South Asian countries have left him with great impressions. In his opinion, with all things considered in the current global context, heading southbound has become one of the ultimate options for Taiwanese businesses exploring growth opportunities. The “New Southbound Policy” initiated in 2016 fully reflects the importance of the region to Taiwan’s economy.
林宗宏說：「我們專利師的使命就是要服務企業，讓企業能夠在智慧財產權的保護下，安心投資東南亞以及印度，所以我們當然要對東南亞以及印度的智慧財產權有充分的瞭解，就跟我們以前研究美國跟中國大陸的制度一樣，要仔細的研究東南亞以及印度的智慧財產權制度。」他期勉同業努力進修，滿足客戶需求的同時，成為國家經濟發展的重要支撐，也期待未來跟各國專家，有進一步的合作機會。
Mr. Lin said, “As patent attorneys, our mission is to provide adequate services to clients so that their investment in new markets can be safely secured with sufficient IP protections. To pursue the best interest of our clients, we should equip ourselves with the required knowledge. Study IPR regimes, prosecutions, enforcements, practices in the southbound region as hard as we study those in China.” He encouraged colleagues to catch up and look forward to further collaborations with IP experts from the Southbound countries.
2019年新南向智慧財產研討會為期一天半，受邀講者包括馬來西亞專利程序與國際登記組副組長Mrs. Zaiton Nordin、菲律賓智慧局智財專家 Ms. Melanie G. Binauhan、泰國智慧局資深審查官Mr. Panja Haohan及越南智慧局專利審查中心副主任 Mr. Phan Thanh Hai 等官員；受邀的當地公會代表則包括來自馬來西亞的 Dr Chris Hemingway、菲律賓的 Mr. Jose Eduardo T. Genilo、泰國的 Dr. Poondej Krairit、越南的 Mrs. Nguyen Nguyet Dzung、印度的 Mr. Sidharth Bansal 及 印尼的 Ms. Juliane Sari Manurung 。
The invited IP Office officials and attorneys are Mrs. Zaiton Nordin, the Director of patent formality and international registration division of the IP Office and Dr. Chris Heminway from Malaysia; Ms. Melanie Binauhan, the IPR Specialist IV and Asst.division chief of the IP Office and Mr. Jose Eduardo T. Genilo from Philippines; Mr. Panja Haohan, the Senior Patent Examiner of the IP office and Dr. Poondej Krairit from Thailand; Mr. Phan Thanh Hai, the Deputy Director of Patent Examination Center and Mrs. Nguyen Nguyet Dzung from Vietnam; Mr. Sidharth Bansal from India and Ms. Juliane Sari Manurung from Indonesia.
政府 2016 年 8 月正式啟動的新南向政策，涵蓋區域包括東協十國、南亞六個人口大國、澳洲及紐西蘭等18國。其中，積極參與區域整合的東協十國，近年經濟蓬勃發展，國民所得持續提升，創造了廣大內需市場。2018年東協市場占我國貿易總額達15%，未來成長潛力無可限量。而人口規模超過17億人的南亞七國，近年經濟成長均有亮眼成績，龐大人口數量帶來的相關效益亦不容小覷。
The New Southbound policy launched in August 2016 targets markets in the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), six countries in South Asia, plus Australia and New Zealand. Among which, ASEAN nations, in particular, are of crucial importance to Taiwan’s trade and economic partnerships. Its regional integration over past decades not only has enjoyed rapid economic growth but also brought fast growth in personal income and domestic demand. ASEAN as a whole is Taiwan’s second-largest trading partner, accounting for 15 percent of total trade in 2018. South Asia, with a population of nearly 1.8 billion, also has experienced a long period of robust economic growth, averaging 6% a year over the past 20 years. These countries, at vastly different stages of development, all share immense growth potential.
台商在東南亞經營過去主要著眼於其廉價勞力與豐富資源，如今該區消費能力逐漸受到各國重視，內需商機後來居上。有意南向發展的台商，對於語言、國情、智財保護各異的各個市場，思考如何在當地投資，並善用當地智慧財產制度，擬定適切的智財策略，才能在當地妥善保護品牌與經營成果。
IPR can protect a company’s business achievements while generating more value for the company. When entering the local market of a New Southbound country, if using the country’s IPR system properly and setting appropriate IP portfolio strategies, the company shall be able to leverage its advantages more.
Reference:
- TIPO holds seminars on IPR practices for 2019. Presentation and meeting materials are now available on TIPO website
- Seminar on IP Landscape in New Southbound countries
- 東南亞及南亞國家智慧財產權益維護專區
- 經濟部智慧財產局舉辦「2019新南向智慧財產研討會」（含研討會發表資料）
- TIPO Hosts the “2019 Seminar on the IP Landscape in New Southbound Countries” on August 27-28
- TIPO’s webpage IPR updates in Southeast Asian and South Asian countries (in Chinese)
- TIPO Hosts the “2019 Seminar on the IP Landscape in New Southbound Countries” on August 27-28