Patents in Taiwan

The criteria for patentability in Taiwan include:

• statutory subject matter;
•  enablement;
• written descriptions;
• industrial applicability;
• novelty; and
• non-obviousness.

To what extent can inventions covering software be patented?

To determine whether a software-related invention meets the definition of an ‘invention’, the content of the claimed invention – rather than the recitation form of the claims – must be considered in order to identify whether the invention (as a whole) is of a technical nature. If a portion of the claimed invention does not use the laws of nature, it will still meet the definition of an ‘invention’.

Judgments are made based on the technical features recited in the claims; but due to the special nature of software-related inventions, the specification must also be reviewed in order to understand the essential meaning of each feature of the claim.

Yu Li Tsai, Deep & Far Attorneys

Lexology

New Taiwanese electronic payments law will encourage patent growth

I'm not sure I understand this article, perhaps it lost something in the translation. It seems to be saying that because Paypal can't operate in Taiwan that patents are difficult to obtain but a change to the electronic banking law may let them operate. -- Bruce Article at Lexology

Microsoft Cuts Android Patent Fee To Attract Vendors To Pre-install Android Apps

Microsoft has made an offer to vendors in Taiwan and China to pre-install its application software such as Skype and Office programs like Word, Excel PowerPoint and OneDrive, on their Android devices, in exchange offering discounts on the patent licensing fees. On March 23, Microsoft signed an agreement with almost 11 vendors around the globe for pre-installation of its application softwares and now they have to pay fees for shipment of every Android based devices.

After the patent fees agreement, Microsoft patent licensing fees have grown remarkably, as the demand for Android devices shipments is rising. The discount given to Android products is a step towards increasing the usage of Microsoft application in the mobile devices.

Full Article: Larry Darrell at Bidness Etc