Taiwan has made miraculous gains in the past decades. From small goods manufacturer to high tech industry powerhouse, and from "Made in Taiwan" to "Designed and/or Innovated in Taiwan", Taiwan is truly one of the world's most important and successful partners.

But somehow, both domestically and internationally, Taiwan can't seem to shake its status as a second-tier brand. When it comes to electronics, consumers tend to choose Japanese or even Korean. Taiwan companies always seem to be defendants rather than prosecution in patent infringement cases.

This raises a serious question: How is Taiwan faring in the innovation race?

For foreign companies with branch offices in Taiwan, TIPO has reiterated the following rules for filing applications:
- The applicant must have an independent personality and be a legal entity or natural person. Branch offices of foreign companies that do not have independent personalities must apply with the name of the parent company.
- Non-Taiwan-based branch offices of foreign companies applying for patents will be required to: 1) change the applicant name to that of the parent company; or 2) submit official documents proving independent personality and provide a statement declaring the branch office possesses an independent personality.
- As different countries have differing standards on independent legal personalities, TIPO may require the applicant provide a copy of the relevant law.

On 19 May, TIPO announced simplified procedures for claiming priority from a US patent for Taiwan patent applications. If the relevant documents of evidence for priority are provided through a compact disk issued by the USPTO, paper copies will no longer be required. The applicant need only provide the compact disk and two copies of the claimed application's basic information and a Chinese translation. The new rules will go in effect on 1 July 2011.

On 5 May 2011, Li Yuguang, Deputy Director of SIPO and Teresa Rea, Deputy Director of the USPTO reached a consensus on an execution plan based on a previously signed MOU, to be implemented in 2011. Both sides agreed to move forward on existing cooperation plans, as well as take the next steps for a Patent Prosecution Highway and implement in-depth discussions on issues raise among the IP5. During the meeting Li and Rea also exchanged views and mutual concerns on international IP issues.

For organizations and inventors accustomed to dealing with the United States Patent Office (USPTO) and the European Patent Office (EPO), the transition to filing for patents in Taiwan at the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office (TIPO) is not too difficult a next step. However, due to fundamental differences in patent systems, these organizations and inventors may not fully be aware, and as a result unable to take full advantage, of their strategic options.

One such option is the Taiwan Utility Model Patent.