Taiwan plans to establish a new court and prosecutor's office to handle intellectual property rights (IPR) cases, a measure aimed at streamlining such proceedings and making them more professional, Taiwan's Justice Ministry confirmed Tuesday.
The new legal offices will be based on a law passed by Taiwan's legislature on Monday, called the Organic Law of the Intellectual Property Court. The new court and prosecution offices could be set up as early as April or May, after finalizing a temporary site for the office. A new building will be erected within the next few years.
The new IPR Court will have the power to assess its own needs and set up new branches depending on case load. Officials plan to hire review officers proficient in intellectual property affairs to assist new judges.
Taiwan has long struggled with intellectual property rights issues. The island has graced the Priority Watch List of the U.S. Special 301 review of copyright piracy a few times in past years, and is nearly always at least on the Special 301 Watch List. The list is compiled each year and nations on the list are watched closely for signs of improvement. Failure to take action can result in losing certain duty-free trade privileges with the U.S.
Recently, local media has reported that the European Union may file a suit against Taiwan in the World Trade Organization in relation to a spat between electronics giant Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV and Taiwanese optical disc makers over royalties for CD technology.
Over the past decade, more Taiwanese companies have also taken rivals to court to defend their own intellectual property rights.
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