Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1
The law conferring the authority to establish these RulesThese Rules are formulated pursuant to
Article 110 of the Trademark Act (hereinafter referred to as“the Act”).
Article 2 Form of application
Any application or request filed under the provisions of the Act or these Rules shall, except those
transmitted by electronic means pursuant to Article 13 of the Act, be in written form and affixed
with the signature or seal of the applicant or the signature or seal of the trademark agent only, if
such agent is appointed. In order to check the identity or the qualification of the applicant, the
Registrar Office may give the applicant a notice to furnish his/her identification documents, the
certificate of juridical person or other documents of proof of the applicant’s qualification.
The format and number of the written form referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be
prescribed by the Registrar Office.
Article 3 Use of languages
The applications and documents submitted in relation to trademark matters shall be in Chinese.
When the documents of proof are in foreign languages, the Registrar Office may give a notice to
furnish a full or excerpted Chinese translation thereof if it deems necessary.
Article 4 Documents of proof
Any document of proof submitted pursuant to the Act or these Rules shall be original. However,
copies of the original may be used instead under the following:
(1)the original has been submitted to the Registrar Office, and the serial number of the file in which
the original is has been identified in the copy; or
(2)the person who submits the copy has made a preliminary statement that the copy and the original
are identical. In order to check the authenticity of the copy, the Registrar Office may give such
person a notice to submit the original and has it returned after the authenticity has been checked.
Article 5 Representation
Where an applicant appoints a trademark agent, a power of attorney shall be submitted, specifying
powers delegated to the agent.
The appointment referred to in the preceding paragraph may relate to one or more existing and
future trademark applications, changes, oppositions, invalidations, revocations and other relevant
procedures.
Any change to the power delegated to the agent shall have no effect if a written notice thereof is not
submitted to the Registrar Office.
Any change in the agent’s address for service shall be reported to the Registrar Office by giving a
written notice thereof.
Article 6 Special provisions for representation
An agent may carry out all acts which are covered by the powers delegated to him. However, the
right to appoint and remove an agent, restrict the designated goods or services in an application or
registration, withdraw an application or abandon a trademark right may only be carried out if the
powers to that effect have been delegated.
Article 7 The meaning of “not amended within the period specified in a notice”
The statement “not amended within the period specified in a notice”as prescribed in Paragraph 1
of Article 8 of the Act refers to the circumstance where amendment has not been made within the
specified period or where the amendment made within the specified period was incomplete.
Article 8 Extension of the specified period
The specified period during which an action should be done pursuant to the Act or these Rules other
than Rule 34 may be extended if such extension is requested by the party concerned and the request
is submitted to the Registrar Office, with the statement of the reason and the period of extension,
before the original period expired.
Article 9 Restoration to the status quo ante
While requesting for restoration to the status quo ante pursuant to Paragraph 2 of Article 8 of the
Act, the applicant, holder or other interested person shall submit a written statement clarifying the
cause of failure to comply within the statutory period and the date on which such cause vanishes;
documents of proof shall be included.
Article 10 Content of the Trademark Register
The Trademark Register shall contain the following entries:
(1) the registration number and the date of publication of registration;
(2) the application number and the filing date of the application;
(3) the name and address of domicile or business establishment of the proprietor of a registered
trademark;
(4) the name of the trademark agent;
(5) an indication that the mark is a trademark, a certification mark, a collective membership mark or
a collective trademark; an indication of the type of the trademark, and an indication that the
reproduction is “in color” or “in black and white”;
(6) the name, the reproduction and the description of the trademark;
(7) the list of designated goods or services and the classes thereof;
(8) the date of priority and the country or the member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in
which the first application was made; the date of exhibition priority and the name of the
exhibition;
(9) where the trademark is registered pursuant to Paragraph 2 or 3 of Article 29, the proviso of
Subparagraphs 10 to 15 of Paragraph 1 of Article 30 or Paragraph 4 of the same article, that
fact;
(10) particulars as to changes and corrections of the trademark registration;
(11) where the trademark right is renewed, the expiry date of the renewal period of the trademark
right; where the trademark right is renewed in respect of only some goods or services, the list
of such goods or services and the classes thereof;
(12) where the trademark right is divided, the original registration in the Register shall contain the
registration numbers of the divisional registrations, and the divisional registrations in the
Register shall contain the registration number of the original registration as well as the entries
of the original registration in the Register;
(13) the list of goods or services restricted and the classes thereof;
(14) the name and domicile or business establishment of the transferee of the trademark right, as
well as its trademark agent;
(15) the name of the licensee; where the license is exclusive or non-exclusive, that fact; the date
when the license took effect and, if any, will be terminated; where the license is for some of the
designated goods or services for which such trademark is registered and for a particular locality
, the list of such goods or services, the classes thereof and the name of that locality. These
provisions shall also apply to sub-license;
(16) the name of the pledgee and the amount of the claim secured by the pledge;
(17) particulars of a change of a license, sub-license or pledge;
(18) the extinguishment of a license, sub-license, and pledge;
(19) the cancellation or revocation of the registration and the grounds thereof; where the
cancellation or revocation is in respect of some goods or services, the list of such goods or
services and the classes thereof;
(20) the abandonment or extinguishment of trademark right;
(21) particulars of compulsory execution, administrative execution or insolvency proceedings
noticed by courts or administrative execution agencies;
(22) any other particulars relevant to trademark rights and all other particulars prescribed by acts or
regulations.
Article 11 Trademark Gazette
The entries made in the Trademark Register shall be published in the Trademark Gazette.
Chapter II Trademark Application and Examination
Article 12 Content of the application
An application for trademark registration shall be made by filing a written application containing a
statement of the mark as a trademark, a certification mark, a collective membership mark or a
collective trademark, as well as the type of the mark, and specifying the following:
(1)the name, address of domicile or business establishment, and the nationality or locality of the
applicant and, if any, the name of its representative;
(2) if any, the name and address of domicile or business establishment of agent;
(3) the name of the trademark;
(4) the reproduction of the trademark;
(5) the list of designated goods or services and the classes thereof;
(6) where the reproduction contains foreign languages, specification of the languages thereof;
(7) where a description is required, such description;
(8) where the priority right is claimed pursuant to Article 20 of the Act, the date of filing the first
application, the country or the member of the WTO in which the first application was made, and
the application number of the first application;
(9) where the exhibition priority is claimed pursuant to Article 21 of the Act, the date of the first
display of the goods or services and the name of the exhibition;
(10) where Paragraph 3 of Article 29 or Paragraph 4 of Article 30 of the Act is applicable, the
disclaimer.
Article 13 Representation of the trademark
The reproduction of the trademark shall conform to the format published by the Registrar Office.
The Registrar Office may require the applicant to furnish a description and a specimen of the
trademark, if it deems necessary to help the examination of the reproduction.
The reproduction may use broken lines to show the manner, placement or context in which the
trademark is used on the designated goods or services. The matter shown by the broken lines is not a
part of the trademark.
A description as prescribed in the first paragraph refers to the explanation of the trademark itself and
the manner in which the trademark is used on the goods or services.
A specimen as prescribed in the first paragraph refers to the sample of the trademark or the
electronic data carrier that contains the stored representation of the trademark.
Article 14 Color trademarks
Where the application contains a statement to the effect that the trademark is a color trademark, the
reproduction of the trademark shall consist of a sample of the color or colors. The reproduction may
use broken lines to show the manner, placement or context in which the color is or the colors are
used on the designated goods or services.
The applicant shall furnish a description indicating the color or colors and the manner in which it is
or they are used on the designated goods or services.
Article 15 Three-dimensional trademarks
Where the application contains a statement to the effect that the mark is a three-dimensional
trademark, the reproduction of the trademark shall consist of not more than six views depicting the
three-dimensional shape.
The reproduction under the preceding paragraph may use broken lines to show the manner,
placement or context in which the three-dimensional shape is used on the designated goods or
services.
The applicant shall furnish a description explaining the three-dimensional shape. Where the
trademark contains an element other than the three-dimensional shape, the explanation of the element shall be included in the description.
Article 16 Motion trademarks
Where the application contains a statement to the effect that the trademark is a motion trademark,
the reproduction of the trademark shall consist of one or a series of not more than six still images
depicting the movement.
The applicant shall furnish a description explaining the movement in the sequential order and an
electronic data carrier conforming to the format published by the Registrar Office.
Article 17 Hologram trademarks
Where the application contains a statement to the effect that the trademark is a hologram trademark,
the reproduction of the trademark shall consist of not more than four views of the trademark
capturing the holographic effect in its entirety.
The applicant shall furnish a description explaining the hologram. Where the images change
according to the angle at which the hologram is viewed, the description shall contain the
explanation of the changes of the images.
Article 18 Sound trademarks
Where the application contains a statement to the effect that the trademark is a sound trademark, the
reproduction of the trademark shall be a musical notation on a stave or a numerical musical score.
Where the sound cannot be represented by a musical notation on a stave or a numerical musical
score, the reproduction shall be the written explanation of the sound.
While the reproduction is a musical notation on a stave or a numerical musical score under the
preceding paragraph, the applicant shall furnish a description of the trademark.
The applicant shall furnish an electronic data carrier which conforms to the format published by the
Registrar Office.
Article 19 List of goods and services
While applying for a trademark registration, the applicant shall designate the class(es) of goods or
services according to the order of the Classification of Goods and Services, and shall specifically
list the names of the goods or services.
The Registrar Office shall publish the Classification of Goods and Services according to the
headings of classes under the International Classification of Goods and Services published by the
World Intellectual Property Organization.
For trademarks that are registered prior to the amendment to the Classification of Goods and
Services, the class of goods or services for which a trademark is designated shall be that as
registered. For trademarks that are not registered, the class of goods or services for which a
trademark is designated shall be that as designated at the time of filing.
Article 20 Calculation of the six-month priority period
The period of six months as prescribed in Paragraph 1 of Article 20 of the Act shall be counted from
the day following the date of filing of the first application in a country which has reciprocal
recognition of priority rights with the Republic of China (ROC) or with a member of the WTO to
the filing date as prescribed in Paragraph 2 of Article 19 of the Act.
Article 21 Documents of proof of exhibition priority
Where an application is filed with a claim for exhibition priority pursuant to Article 21 of the Act,
the applicant shall submit a certificate issued at the exhibition by the host of the exhibition.
The certificate referred to in the preceding paragraph shall declare the following:
(1)the name of the exhibition and its venue, the name of the host of such exhibition, and the date of
the first display of the goods or services;
(2) the name of the participant and his/her goods or services displayed at the exhibition; and
(3) the photographs showing the display of the goods or services, catalogs, brochures or any other
documents capable of proving the content of the display.
Article 22 Provisions applied mutatis mutandis to calculation of the six-month exhibition priority
Where an application is filed with a claim for exhibition priority pursuant to Article 21 of the Act,
Rule 20 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the period of six months from the day following the date of
the first display of goods or services of such application.
Article 23 Filing on the same date
Where all of the applicants shall reach an agreement on the precedence by consultations among each
other pursuant to Article 22 of the Act, the Registrar Office shall give all of such applicants a notice
to undergo such consultations within specified period. Where no agreement is reached within such
period, the Registrar Office shall give all of such applicants a notice of a specified date and location
to casting lots for deciding precedence.
Article 24 The amendments not substantially change the trademark
An amendment to the reproduction of a trademark that does not substantially change such trademark
as prescribed in the proviso of Article 23 of the Act refers to any of the following:
(1)deletion of an element devoid of distinctiveness or likely to mislead the public as to the nature,
quality, or place of origin of the goods or services;
(2)deletion of a particular pertaining to the weight or ingredients of goods, phone or address of
agents or dealers, or any other purely informational matter;
(3)deletion of the internationally used symbol for a trademark or a trademark registration (the letter
R enclosed within a circle); or
(4)a change that uses broken lines to indicate elements that are not part of the trademark.
Subparagraph 1 of the preceding paragraph shall not apply to a deletion which alters the commercial
impression created by the original reproduction of such trademark being recognized by relevant
consumers as an indication of the source.
Article 25 Change to the application
A change to any particular in an application for registration pursuant to Article 24 of the Act shall be
made by filing a written request, as well as furnishing documents of proof unless such change is not
necessary to be proven by documents.
A request referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be filed for a single application for
registration. A single request shall be sufficient even where the change relates to more than one
application, provided that the particulars changed are the same for each application.
Article 26 Correction of the application
Where a correction of errors in the particulars of an application for trademark registration is
requested pursuant to Article 25 of the Act, the Registrar Office may require, if necessary, the
applicant to furnish relevant proof.
Article 27 Division of the application
A request for division of an application for registration shall be made by filing a written request
indicating how many parts will the original application be divided into and the designated goods or
services to be included in each divisional application.
The designated goods or services to be included in each divisional application shall not overlap or
go beyond the scope of designated goods or services of the original application.
Where a request for division of an application for registration was filed after the registration was
accepted and before the registration was published, the Registrar Office shall proceed the division of
registration after the registration fee has been paid by the applicant and the registration was
published.
Article 28 Transfer of the application
A change to the name of applicant due to transfer of rights derived from an application for
trademark registration pursuant to Article 27 of the Act shall be made by filing a written request, as
well as furnishing the contract or any other documents of proof of such transfer.
A request referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be filed for a single application for
registration. A single request shall be sufficient even where the change relates to more than one
application, provided that the applicant and the transferee are the same for each application.
Article 29 Proof of acquired distinctiveness
An applicant, who claims that the trademark has been used by him/her and has become, in trade, a
sign capable of distinguishing his/her goods or services as prescribed in Paragraph 2 of Article 29 of
the Act, shall furnish proof thereof.
Article 30 A letter of consent is obviously improper
The term“obviously improper”as prescribed in the proviso of Subparagraph 10 of Paragraph 1
of Article 30 of the Act refers to any of the following:
(1)the trademark is identical with another person’s registered trademark or earlier filed trademark
and to be applied for goods or services identical with those for which the registered trademark is
protected or the earlier filed trademark is designated;
(2) the court grants an injunction prohibiting disposal of the registered trademark;
(3) the Registrar Office holds that the consent is obviously improper.
Article 31 The meaning of“well-known”
The term“well-known”as prescribed in the Act refers to the circumstance where there is objective
proof of a sign capable of being commonly recognized by the relevant enterprises or consumers.
Article 32 The meaning of“the name of a juridical person, business or any group”
The term“the name of a juridical person, business or any group”as prescribed in Subparagraph 14
of Paragraph 1 of Article 30 of the Act refers to the specific part thereof.
Article 33 The effect of giving a letter of consent on the persons who do so
Where the consent to the application for trademark registration had been given pursuant to the
provisos of Subparagraphs 10 to 15 of Paragraph 1 of Article 30 of the Act, if afterward the person
who consented to such earlier filed trademark files an application for registration of a trademark
which shall not be registered as prescribed in Subparagraph 10 of Paragraph 1 of Article 30 of the
Act in relation to such earlier filed trademark, the later filed trademark shall not be registered unless
the proprietor of such earlier filed trademark consents to the application for registration of such later
filed trademark.
Article 34 Time limits for submitting opinion on intended refusal
The prescribed period within which an applicant may submit his/her opinion on the intended refusal
referred to in Subparagraph 2 of Article 31 of the Act shall, when the domicile or business
establishment of the applicant is in the territory of the ROC, be one month, or, when those
conditions are not fulfilled, two months.
The applicant may request to extend the period referred to in the preceding paragraph by submitting
a written statement clarifying the reason. The extension of such period may, when the domicile or
business establishment of the applicant is in the territory of the ROC, be granted for one month, or,
when those conditions are not fulfilled, two months.
Where the applicant requests for further extension of the period referred to in the preceding
paragraph, the Registrar Office may, when it is appropriate according to the deficiencies to be
remedied, the reason for further extension and the proof thereof, grant further extension of such
period. A groundless request for further extension shall be inadmissible.
Chapter III Trademark Rights
Article 35 Renewal of the registration
A request for renewal of the trademark right for all or some of the designated goods or services for
which it is registered shall be made by the applicant by filing a written request.
A request for renewal of the trademark right as prescribed in the preceding paragraph may also be
made by a person who has interests on the existence of the trademark right by filing a written
request clarifying the reason.
Article 36 Division of registration
Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Rule 27 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a request of division of a registration.
A copy of the written request shall also be furnished for each divisional application along with
related documents of the original application.
Where the division of a registration is accepted, a trademark certificate shall be issued for each
divisional registration by the Registrar Office.
Article 37 Provisions applied mutatis mutandis to change and correction of the registration
Rules 25 and 26 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a request of any change or correction of the
particulars of a trademark registration.
Article 38 Recordal of the license
A request to record a trademark license in the Register shall be made by the proprietor of the
registered trademark or the licensee by filing a written request specifying the following:
(1)the name, address of domicile or business establishment, and nationality or locality of the
proprietor of such registered trademark and the licensee, and, if any, the name of representative;
(2) if any, the name and address of domicile or business establishment of agent;
(3) the registration number of such registered trademark;
(4) where the license is exclusive or non-exclusive, that fact;
(5) the date when the license took effect and, if any, will be terminated;
(6) where the license is for some of the designated goods or services for which such trademark is
registered, the list of such goods or services and the classes thereof;
(7) where the license is for a particular locality, the name of that locality.
Where the recordal of license in the Register referred to in the preceding paragraph is requested by
the licensee, the licensing contract or any other document to prove such license shall be submitted;
where the recordal of license in the Register is requested by the proprietor of such trademark, the
Registrar Office may, for checking the content of license, give such proprietor a notice to submit the
aforementioned document to prove such license.
A request referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be filed for a single registration. A single
request shall be sufficient even where the license relates to more than one registration, provided that
the proprietor and the licensee are the same for all registrations, all of the designated goods or
services are licensed to be used in the same locality for all registrations, and the expiry dates of the
license with respect to all registrations are the same or no expiry date of the license has been
arranged by both parties for all registrations.
The three preceding paragraphs shall apply mutatis mutandis to a request to record a trademark
sub-license in the Register. Unless otherwise prescribed in Paragraph 1 of Article 40 of the Act, such
request shall be made with the submission of documents proving that the person who requested is
entitled to sub-license.
The designated goods or services and locality in respect of a recordal of a trademark sub-license in
the Register shall not go beyond the scope of the original license.
Article 39 Recordal of the transfer
A request to record a transfer of trademark right in the Register shall be made by filing a written
request, as well as furnishing the contract or any other document of proof of such transfer.
A request referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be filed for a single registration. A single
request shall be sufficient even where the transfer relates to more than one registration, provided
that the proprietor and the transferee are the same for each registration.
Article 40 Recordal of the pledge
A request to record an establishment, change, or extinguishment of a pledge of trademark right in
the Register shall be made by the proprietor of such registered trademark or the pledgee by filing a
written request, and, according to the matter of a pledge to be recorded, furnishing the following:
(1)for the recordal of an establishment of a pledge in the Register, the contract or any other
document of proof of such establishment of a pledge;
(2) for the recordal of a change of a pledge in the Register, documents of proof of such change of a
pledge;
(3)for the recordal of the extinguishment of a pledge in the Register, documents to prove that the
performance of such obligation has been made, documents to prove that the pledgee consented to
cancel the recordal of the establishment of a pledge, a judgment of the court and a certificate to
the effect that such judgment has become final or documents of proof which have the same effect
as a final judgment of the court.
Where a request to record an establishment of a pledge in the Register is made, the amount of the
claim secured by the pledge shall be specified in the written request.
Article 41 Request to issue a replacement certificate or re-issue one
A request to issue a replacement registration certificate or re-issue a registration certificate of a
registration may be made by the proprietor of such registration by filing a written request clarifying
the reason in any of the following:
(1) particulars entered in the registration certificate being changed;
(2) the registration certificate being outmoded or damaged;
(3) the registration certificate being destroyed or lost.
Where a replacement registration certificate is issued or a registration certificate is re-issued
pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the original registration certificate shall be published for
nullification in the Trademark Gazette.
Article 42 Amendments to the facts and grounds in respect of an opposition
Where the facts and grounds in respect of an opposition are not precise or self-contained, the
Registrar Office may give the opponent a notice to amend within the prescribed period.
The opponent may change or add the facts and grounds on which the opposition is based within
three months from the day following the date of publication of the opposed trademark registration.
Article 43 Opposition procedure
Where the proprietor of an opposed trademark submit a statement of defense to the opposition or the
opponent submit his/her opinion on the statement of the proprietor pursuant to Paragraph 2 of
Article 49 of the Act, any attachments to such statement of defense or opinion shall also be enclosed
with the copy of such statement of defense or opinion.
Article 44 Filing opposition against a registered trademark after the division of registration thereof
has been accepted and published
Where an opposition is filed against a registered trademark after a division of such trademark
registration has been accepted and published, the Registrar Office shall give the opponent a notice to
designate the trademarks to be opposed, submit related documents and calculate the required fee for
each trademark to be opposed within the prescribed period. The opponent shall, if underpayment
was made, make up the balance or may, if overpayment was made, request for a refund with the
receipt of the payment.
Article 45 Before rendering the disposition of opposition, the division of the opposed
trademark registration has been accepted
Where a division of trademark registration was accepted before the disposition of opposition to such
registration is rendered, the Registrar Office shall give the opponent a notice to make a statement
that he/she requests to proceed with the opposition to all or some of the divisional registrations
within the prescribed period. If the opponent failed to make such statement within the prescribed
period, the Registrar Office shall proceed with the opposition to all of the divisional registrations.
Article 46 Provisions applied mutatis mutandis to invalidation and revocation
Paragraph 1 of Rule 42 and Rule 43 to the preceding rule shall apply mutatis mutandis to
invalidation and revocation.
Chapter IV Certification Mark, Collective Membership Mark and Collective Trademark
Article 47 Testing and verification do not need to be carried out by the proprietor of the
certification mark
In order to certify another person’s goods or services, the proprietor of the certification mark may
have a juridical person or a group which is qualified to test carry out the testing or verification under
its supervision and control.
Article 48 Provisions applied mutatis mutandis to certification mark, collective membership mark
and collective trademark
The provisions relating to trademarks in these Rules shall apply mutatis mutandis to certification
marks, collective membership marks and collective trademarks.
Chapter V Supplementary Provisions
Article 49 Retrieval of the evidence and articles
A person who would like to retrieve the evidence or articles in relation to an application for
trademark registration or a request for trademark related matters shall do so within one month from
the day following the date when the disposition of such application or request has become final.
After the Registrar Office gave such person a notice to retrieve the evidence or articles referred to in
the preceding paragraph within the prescribed period, such evidence or articles may be disposed
directly by the Registrar Office if such person failed to do so within the prescribed period.
Article 50 Entry into force
These Rules shall come into effect from the date of promulgation.
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