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TAIWAN’S DESIGN PATENT, COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK LAWS


music and works of art, that have been tangibly expressed. Te subject matter of copyright may include literary, musical, dramatic, artistic, audiovisual, architectural and computer program works. Copyright protection is available to published and unpublished works showing originality and creativity.


Hofman’s rubber duck is a public work of art that does not discriminate against people or have political connotations; no doubt its creator hopes viewers will appreciate it for what it is: art. Accordingly, an argument may be made that the rubber duck is an original and creative expression of Hofman’s and deserves copyright protection under Taiwan’s Copyright Act (2014). It is interesting to note, however, that an opposite view was previously reported to have been taken by the State Intellectual Property Office of the People’s Republic of China, where officials are of the opinion that the rubber duck is simply an enlargement of a well-known smaller version, revealing the subjective nature of some copyright decisions.


Trademarks


According to the Taiwan Trademark Act (2011), a trademark is a word, design, symbol, three-dimensional shape, hologram, or any combination thereof that


identifies and


distinguishes the source of goods of one party from those of others (distinctiveness).


“ONE OPTION FOR PROSPECTIVE DESIGN PATENT APPLICANTS SUCH AS HOFMAN MAY BE TO CLAIM ONE CHARACTERISED PORTION OF A DESIGN, SUCH AS THE HEAD OF THE RUBBER DUCK.”


with the condition that it be verified in court if anyone should have any problems. Before 1992 registration was required for copyright protection—only aſter that date were copyright disputes decided by the courts.


Te Taiwan Copyright Act (2014) protects original works of authorship, such as writing,


www.worldipreview.com


One notable example of distinctiveness is the case of Jason Wu (吳季剛), a Taiwanese- Canadian fashion designer based in New York City, concerning his application for a trademark for ‘Miss Wu’ with the TIPO. Originally, the application was rejected for lack of distinctiveness. However, aſter US First Lady Michelle Obama wore


dresses designed by


Jason Wu in 2008, 2009 and 2013 and his media notoriety grew, a further trademark application for ‘Miss Wu’ in Taiwan was granted.


For Hofman, one could argue that his rubber duck conforms to the test of being distinct and, like Jason Wu, should be granted a trademark in Taiwan based on similar arguments.


Closing thoughts


In Taiwan, under the Taiwan Copyright Act and the Taiwan Trademark Act, infringement may be considered as a criminal activity or a civil liability. However, under the Taiwan Patent Act, infringement can only be regarded as a civil liability and, currently, the concept of punitive damages has yet to be included. Tese issues should be considered before applicants decide on whether to apply for a design patent, copyright or trademark, or a combination of them, in Taiwan.


T.K. Lin has practised in the IP field since 2002, working with inventors to prepare patent applications. He specialises in the mechanical and consumer devices field.


Julia Liu is a registered Taiwan attorney-at-law and patent attorney. She has practised in the IP field for close to two decades and has served as lead counsel for a number of complex litigation cases. She has successfully represented many clients before the civil, criminal, and administrative courts of Taiwan.


Whether copyright was infringed during the rubber duck’s tour of Taiwan is a topic of heated debate. However, it is hoped that whenever Taiwan’s IP rights protection is placed under the international microscope, Taiwan will be seen as a country that aggressively protects the IP rights of rights holders, similar to those found in other countries. 


Julia Liu is the executive senior legal counsel of Top Team International Patent & Trademark Office. She can be contacted at: law@top-team.com.tw


T.K. Lin is the associate tech manager of Top Team International Patent & Trademark Office. He can be contacted at: mailroom@top-team.com.tw


World Intellectual Property Review Annual 2014


71


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