Intellectual Property Protection in Taiwan

　　In order to make counterfeiting prohibition in Taiwan more smooth and effective, a Counterfeit Products Prohibition Team (Anti-Counterfeiting Committee hereinafter ACC) was organized under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA). The task force is a mission-oriented organization and originally under the Board of Foreign Trade, MOEA. It is to handle, prohibit and coordinate patent, trademark and copyright violation cases as well as collect, consolidate and analyze information concerned. As we know, economy and technology R&D are increasingly important, IPR (IP rights) protection is a means to maintain fair competition. A special agency, Intellectual Property Office (IPO) was organized under MOEA by Taiwan government in January 1999, and the Anti-Counterfeiting Committee (ACC) was placed under IPO in November of the same year for the purpose of consolidating government efforts in this respect. This reveals the determination of Taiwan government in prohibiting counterfeit and pirated products.

　　Protection of IPR is vital for Taiwan to stand in the international society. It has become an established national policy. Our efforts in the last ten years have seen outcomes. We will endeavor to protect IPR in the future to establish an environment in which respect for IPR will be the daily efforts of the population and operational doctrines of industries of Taiwan.