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Chapter One - General Provisions
Article 1
This Act is enacted to protect intellectual property rights, optimize the commercial environment, properly handle intellectual property and commercial cases, and further the nation's technological and economic development.
Article 2
The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court is in charge of the following affairs in accordance with the law:
1. Civil, criminal, and administrative actions concerning intellectual property.
2. Civil actions and non-litigation matters concerning commerce.
Article 3
Jurisdiction of the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court includes the following:
1. First instance and second instance civil actions for the protection of intellectual property rights and interests arising under the Patent Act, Trademark Act, Copyright Act, Optical Disk Act, Trade Secret Act, Integrated Circuit Layout Protection Act, Plant Variety and Plant Seed Act, or Fair Trade Act as well as commercial actions under the jurisdiction of the Commercial Court in accordance with the Commercial ProcedureAct.
2. Offenses under Articles 253 to 255, 317, and 318 of the Criminal Code, violation of the Trademark Act, Copyright Act, Trade Secrets Act, and cases under Paragraph 1, Article 35 and Paragraph 1, Article 36 of the Intellectual Property Case Adjudication Act, and appeals or interlocutory appealsagainst the decisions on criminal actions rendered by district courts in the first instance in an ordinary, summary, or plea bargain proceeding. Criminal actions involving juveniles shall be excluded.
3. First instance administrative actions and compulsory enforcement matters concerning intellectual property rights arising under the Patent Act, Trademark Act, Copyright Act, Optical Disk Act,Integrated Circuit Layout Protection Act, Plant Variety, and Plant Seed Act, or Fair Trade Act.
4. Other cases prescribed by law or determined by the Judicial Yuan to be within the jurisdiction of the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court.
Article 4
The location of the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shall be prescribed by the Judicial Yuan.
The Judicial Yuan may set up additional branches of the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court based on geographic need and the caseload.
Article 5
The Taiwan High Prosecutors Office, Intellectual Property Branch shall be set up as the corresponding authoritiesof the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court; the type and the required number of personnel thereof shall be in accordance with the Schedule.
Prosecutors of the Prosecutors Office of district courts and branches thereof handle criminal cases prescribed in Subparagraphs 2 and 4 of Article 3; the Chief Prosecutor of the immediately supervising Prosecutors Officeshall be the Chief Prosecutor of the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office, Intellectual Property Branch.
Article 6
First-instance civil action in the Intellectual Property and Commercial Courtshall be tried by a singlejudge, while other actions shall be tried by a collegial panel of three judges.
In a collegial panel, the Division Chief Judge shall serve asthe Presiding Judge; if there is no Division Chief Judge or if the Division Chief Judge is not available, the most senior judge, or the eldest if the judges are of the same seniority, shall act as the Presiding Judge.
In a single-judge trial, the sitting judge performsthe duties ofthe Presiding Judge.
Article 7
The type and the required number of personnel of the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court or itsbranch shall be determined in accordance with the Schedule.
The rules governing the types and changes concerning the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court or itsbranch shall beprescribed by the Judicial Yuan.
Article 8
The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shall have one President, served by a judge concurrently, to handle the overall administrative affairs.
The President of the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shall have the qualification and leadership of a Supreme Court Judge, Supreme Administrative Court Judge, or Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors Office.
Article 9
The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shall establish Intellectual Property Courts and Commercial Courts.The number of such divisions is determined by the caseload.
Each division shall selectone Division Chief Judge form its judges concurrently, to oversee its divisional affairs.
Article 10
There shall be judges and judge-on-probation of the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court; each handles trial related affairs concerning intellectual property cases or commercial incidents according to the category ofhis or her reappointment or selection.
To assist with the management of trial proceedings, clarification of issues, conducting legal research, performing analysis and drafting of judgments, the Judicial Yuan, when necessary, may transfer judge-on-probation or judge-in-trainingfrom the District Court or a branch thereof to the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court.
The years that a judge-on-probation or judge-in-training has served during transfer to the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shall be counted towards his or heryears of service.
The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shall have Judicial Assistants. A Judicial Assistant is to be contracted in accordance with the applicable laws or transferred from other courts, administrative courts, or other appropriate agencies. A Judicial Assistant supports a Judge in the management of trial proceedings, clarification of issues, conducting legal research, and performing analysis.
For those who have been admitted to the profession and contracted as a Judicial Assistant, their service years as a Judicial Assistant shall be counted towardstheircumulative years of service.
The rules governing the personnel selection, training, affairs, management, performance review, and other matters concerning Judicial Assistants shall beprescribed by the Judicial Yuan.
Article 11
The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court may set up an enforcement department, where a judge or judicialaffairsofficer may administer enforcement matters for intellectual property cases, or request the civil enforcement department of an ordinary court or an administrative agency to administer enforcement matters on its behalf.
Article 12
The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shall set up a Public Defender's Office. ThePublic Defender shall have selection rankof the 10th and the 11th grade, or recommendation rank of the 9th grade. If there are two or more Public Defenders, the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shall select one of the Public Defenders with a selection rank between the 10th and the 12th grade to be the Chief Public Defender.
The Public Defender mentioned in the preceding paragraph may be promoted to a selection rank up to the 12th grade if he or she is confirmed upon review to have served continuously for four years or greater with outstanding performance or if he or she has been promoted pursuant to Paragraphs 2 or 3, Article 17 of the Court Organization Act or Paragraphs 2 or 3, Article 11 of the Juvenile and Family Court Organization Act.
Years of service on the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court above and those on the High Court or a High Court branch shall be counted cumulatively.
The rules governing the review in Paragraph 2 shall be prescribed by the Judicial Yuan.
Article 13
The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shall set up a Judicial Affairs Office.The Judicial Affairs Officer shall havea recommendation rank between the 7th and 9th grade. If there are two or more Judicial Affairs Officers, the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shall select one of the Judicial Affairs Officers with a recommendation rank of the 9th grade or selection rank of the 10th grade to be the Chief Judicial Affairs Officer.
The years of serving as a judicial affairs officer possessing the qualifications of practicing as a lawyer shall be counted towards his or heryears of practice as a lawyer.
Chapter Two - Qualifications of Judges
Article 14
Judge of the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shall satisfy one of the criteria set forth below to qualify for the position:
1. Has served as a judge on the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court;
2. Has served as a tenured judge or tenured prosecutor;
3. Has served in the position of judge or prosecutor and has served with a recommendation rank as a civil servant for over 8 years in total;
4. Has been substantially engaged in the practice of law as an attorney in intellectual property or commercial litigation for at least 8 years and possesses the qualifications for the proposed appointment;
5. Graduated from the department of law, political science, public administration, or its graduate school in a public or private university, or independent college, and served as a full-time professor, associate professor, or assistant professor in a university or independent college certified by the Ministry of Education for over eight years in total, teaching intellectual property rights or commercial law related courses for over five years, with the professional works related to the above-mentioned topics, and possesses the qualifications for the proposed appointment;
6. Graduated from the department of law, political science,public administration, or its graduate school of a public or private university, independent college, and has served as a distinguished research fellow, research fellow, associate research fellow, or assistant research fellow of the Academia Sinica for over eight years in total, with intellectual property rights or commercial law related specialized legal works, and possesses the qualifications for the proposed appointment;
7. Graduated from the department of law, political science,public administration, or its graduate school in a public or private university, or independent college; was in public service with a selection rank; possesses a total of over ten years' experience in the review, petition, or legal proceedings in connection with intellectual property, business management, securities transactions or management, or futures transactions or management; and has authored relevant legal works in intellectual property rights or commercial law.
The years of service in Subparagraphs 5 and 6 of the preceding paragraph may be cumulated according to the legal categories of the lectures and works.
For applicable personnel in Subparagraphs 2 and 3 of Paragraph 1, their qualifications, procedures, on-the-job training, anddetail to other agencies for special assignments shall be governed by the regulations prescribed in Article 10, Paragraph 1 of the Judges Act.
For applicable personnel in Subparagraphs 4 to 7 of Paragraph 1, the selection procedures, age limit of judges, and training and other matters shall be governed by the regulations set forth in Paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 8 of the Judges Act.
Article 15
The appointment of candidates meeting the qualifications in Paragraph 1 of the article above as Intellectual Property and Commercial Court Judge shall be reassigned or selected according to the professional category of intellectual property or commerce. Review of reassignmentand selection of Judges shall take into account the candidates' ethics, experience, and accomplishmentin the legal profession.
The Judicial Yuan shall conduct on-the-job training for personnel of the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court every year to promote their legal professionalism and improve their judicative quality.
Chapter Three - Appointment of Technical Examination and Commercial Investigation Officers
Article 16
The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shall havea Technical Examination Officers' Office and a Commercial Investigation Officers' Office consisting of Technical Examination Officers and Commercial Investigation Officers with a recommendation rank between the 8th and 9th grade, half of whom may have a selection rankof the 10th grade. If there are two or more Officers of a respective type, then there may be a Chief Technical Examination Officer or a Chief Commercial Investigation Officer with a selection rankbetween the 10th and 11th grade.
If necessary, the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court may hire or transfer various professionals to serve as the Technical Examination Officers or Commercial Investigation Officers in the preceding paragraph in accordance with related personnel hiring laws and regulations. The rules governing such recruitment shall be prescribed by the Judicial Yuan.
The Technical Examination Officers' Office and Commercial Investigators' Office may be divided into teams if necessary. The leader of each team is concurrently assumed by the Technical Examination Officer and the Commercial Investigation Officer. Neither duties will have separate positions established.
The Technical Examination Officer and the Commercial Investigation Officer are ordered by the Judge to handle the following affairs:
1. The determination regarding the technical or commercial issues of a case, data collection, analysis, and providing opinions.
2. Other matters stipulated by the law.
Article 17
A Technical Examination Officer shall satisfy one of the criteria set forth below and possess the qualifications for the proposed appointment:
1. Has served as a Patent Examiner or Trademark Examiner over 3 years in total with a good track record and possesses proof of qualifications; or has graduated with a Master's Degree or above from a relevant department ora graduate school of a public or private university or an independent college, or a foreign institution ofhigher education recognized by the Ministry of Education, and served as a Patent Examiner or Trademark Examiner or Assistant Examiner for over 6 years in total with a good track record and possesses proof of qualifications; or has graduated with a diploma in a relevant field from a public or private college or a foreign institution of higher education recognized by the Ministry of Education, and served as a Patent Examiner or Trademark Examiner or Assistant Examiner for over 8 years in total with a good track record and possesses proof of qualifications;
2. Is or was a lecturer in a relevant department or a graduate school of a public or private university or independent college for over 6 years and an assistant professor, associate professor, or a professorin a relevant department or a graduate school of a public or private university or independent college for over 3 years in total, or a research fellow at a public or a private professional research institute for over 6 years; and has specialized publications on intellectual properties and possesses proof of qualifications.
A Commercial Investigation Officer shall satisfy one of the criteria set forth below and possess the qualifications for the proposed appointment:
1. Has held a position for over 3 years in total in the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Executive Yuan, Financial Supervisory Commission, R.O.C., Taiwan Stock Exchange Corporation, Taipei Exchange, Taiwan Futures Exchange Corporation, Taiwan Depository & Clearing Corporation, or other equivalent units, and has a specialty in accounting, investments, financial analysis, economics, and financial markets, with good performance and proof of qualifications.
2. Has graduated with a Master's Degree or above from a relevant department or a graduate school of a public or private university or an independent college, or a foreign institution of higher education recognized by the Ministry of Education, and has held a position in the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Executive Yuan, Financial Supervisory Commission, R.O.C., Taiwan Stock Exchange Corporation, Taipei Exchange, Taiwan Futures Exchange Corporation, Taiwan Depository & Clearing Corporation, or other equivalent units for over 2 years in total, and has a specialty in accounting, investments, financial analysis, economics, and financial markets, with good performance and proof of qualifications.
3. Is or was a lecturer in a relevant department or a graduate school of a public or private university or independent college for over 3 years in total, or an assistant professor, associate professor, or professor in a relevant department or a graduate school of a public or private university or independent college for over 2 years in total, or a research fellow at a public or a private professional research institute for over 3 years in total, and has specialized publications on accounting, investments, financial analysis, economics, or financial markets and proof of qualifications.
For a person with qualification statedin Subparagraph 1 of Paragraph 1, his or her years of service as a Patent Examiner or Trademark Examiner prior to the promulgation of the Patent Examiner Qualification Act and Trademark Examiner Qualification Act are includible.
"Good track record" in Subparagraph 1 of Paragraph 1, and Subparagraphs 1 and 2 of Paragraph 2, means a record of at least two As and one B on the merit system in the past three years, with no criminal sentence, disciplinary measure, or a demerit on the daily performance merit system, and shall be supported by documents issued by the relevant institutions.
Chapter Four - Department of Clerks, Auxiliary Units, and their Personnel Appointment
Article 18
The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shall set up a Department of Clerks consisting of a Chief Clerk with a recommendation rank of the 9th grade to a selection rankof the 11th grade, to take charge of administrative affairs according to the instruction of the President; 1st classClerks with a recommendation rank between the 8th and the 9th grade, 2nd class Clerks with a recommendation rank between the 6th and the 7th grade, and 3rdclassClerks with an elementary rank between the 4th and the 5th grade.The Clerks are responsible for recordation, secretarial affairs, research and evaluation, general affairs, information, and litigation assistance affairs. The Department of Clerks may be divided into sections and units. The Section Chief shall be served by a 1st class Clerk, and the Unit Chief by either a 1st class Clerk or a 2nd class Clerk, on a concurrent basis and all with no particular ranking; the Section Chief may be served by a 2nd class Clerk concurrently when the number of 1st class Clerks is less than the number of sections established and there is a business need for such service.
The total number of 1st class and 2nd class Clerks in the preceding paragraph combined shall not exceed half of the total number of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class Clerks in the same Intellectual Property and Commercial Court.
The matters concerning sections, units, concurrent service, exemption from concurrent service, and others as mentioned in Paragraph 1 shall be prescribed by the Judicial Yuan.
Article 19
The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court mayset up a Lodgment Office consisting of a Chief Officer with a selection rank of the 10th grade, 2nd class Clerks with a recommendation rank between the 6th and the 7th grade, and 3rd class Clerks with an elementary rank between the 4th and the 5th grade.
Article 20
The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shall have 1st class Interpreters with a recommendation rank between the 8th and 9th grade; 2nd class Interpreters with a recommendation rank between the 6th and 7th grade; 3rd class Interpreters with an elementary rank between the 4th and 5th grade; Technical Specialists with an elementary rank of the 5th grade or a recommendation rank between the 6th and 7th grade; Process Servers with an elementary rank between the 3rd and 5th grade; and ClerkAssistants and Court Attendants with an elementary rank between the 1st and 3rd grade.
The number of 1st and 2nd classInterpreters in the preceding paragraph shall not exceed half of the total number of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class Interpreters in the same Intellectual Property and Commercial Court.
If interpretation is required, the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shallcontract specially arranged interpreters for Taiwan aboriginal or other languages on a case-by-case basis. The rules governing such personnel contractingwill be prescribed by the Judicial Yuan.
Article 21
The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shall have Bailiffs: a Chief Bailiff with an elementary rank of the 5th grade or a recommendation rank between the 6th and 7th grade, a Deputy Bailiff with an elementary rank between the 4th and 5th grade or a recommendation rank of the 6th grade, and Bailiffs with an elementary rank between the 3rd and 5th grade.
Article 22
The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court will set up a Personnel Office consisting of a Chief Officer with a recommendation rank of the 9th grade to a selection rankof the 10th grade and may be staffed with Specialists with a recommendation rank between the 7th and the 8th grade and Officers with an elementary rank of the 5th grade or a recommendation rank between the 6th and the 7th grade. The Chief Officer, Specialists, and Officers administer personnel matters pursuant to the law.
Article 23
The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shall set up an Accounting Office and a Statistics Office. Each consists of a Chief Officer with a recommendation rank of the 9th grade to a selection rankof the 10th grade. The two offices may be staffed withSpecialists with a recommendation rank between the 7th and the 8th grade and Officers with an elementary rank of the 5th grade or a recommendation rank grade between the 6th and the 7th grade. The Chief Officers, Specialists, and Officers administer matters relating to annual calculation, accounting, and statistics pursuant to the law.
Article 24
The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shall set up a Government Ethics Office consisting of a Chief Officer with a recommendation rank of the 9th grade to a selection rankof the 10th grade and may be staffed with Specialists with a recommendation rank between the 7th and the 8th grade and Officers with an elementary rank of the 5th grade or a recommendation rank between the 6th and the 7th grade. The Chief Officer, Specialists, and Officers administer matters relating to government ethics pursuant to the law.
Article 25
The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shall set up an Information Management Office consisting of a Chief Officer with a recommendation rank of the 9th grade to a selection rankof the 10th grade, Programmers and Management Information System Officers, all with a recommendation rank between the 6th and 8th grade, and Assistant Programmers with an elementary rank between the 4th and 5th grade or a recommendation rank of the 6th grade. Information Management Office personnel administer matters related to information technology.
The number of Assistant Programmers with a recommendation rank in the preceding paragraph may not exceed half of the total number of Assistant Programmers in the same Intellectual Property and Commercial Court.
Chapter Five - Judicial Year and Allocation of Assignments
Article 26
A judicial year starts on January 1 and ends on December 31 of a year.
Article 27
The administrative procedures and rules for the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shall be prescribed by the Judicial Yuan.
The administrative procedures and rules of the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office, Intellectual Property Branch, shall be prescribed by the Ministry of Justice.
Article 28
The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shall set up a Council of Judges.
The composition, time of meetings, matters for resolution and resolution procedures, etc. of a Council of Judges are governed by Chapter 4 of the Judges Act unless otherwise stipulated.
Chapter Six - Commencement and Closure of Trials; Court Order
Article 29
Unless otherwise prescribed by law, trials of the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shall be held within the court.
The rules governing court seats and auditing matters of the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shall be prescribed by the Judicial Yuan.
Article 30
If necessary, the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court may hold a temporary trial at a designated location of its jurisdiction.
The rules governing the temporary trial in the preceding paragraph shall be prescribed by the Judicial Yuan.
Article 31
The Presiding Judge has the authority to direct the commencement, closure, and proceeding of a trial.
Article 32
The Presiding Judge has the authority to maintain court order in a trial.
Article 33
The Presiding Judge may bar a person who is disrupting court order or engaging in other inappropriate behavior from entering the courtroom or order such person to leave the courtroom. If necessary, the Presiding Judge may arrange to have the person detained until the court session is adjourned.
An order given pursuant to the preceding paragraph maynot be appealed.
The provision in the preceding two paragraphs shall applymutatis mutandis where the Presiding Judge is performing duties outside of court.
Article 34
In the event an agent ad litem or a defense attorney acts or speaks inappropriately during the course of a trial, the Presiding Judge may give warnings or restrain him from representation on the trial day.
Article 35
When giving an order pursuant to the preceding two articles, the Presiding Judge shall provide grounds in the record.
Article 36
Rules governing the Presiding Judge in this Chapter shall applymutatis mutandis to the Commissioned Judge or Assigned Judge.
Article 37
Anyone who violates an order given by the Presiding Judge, Commissioned Judge or Assigned Judge intending to maintain court order, thereby obstructing the court proceeding and who continues to refuse to comply upon warning, shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, detention, or a fine not exceeding thirty thousand New Taiwan dollars.
Article 38
Those who hold court audio recordings and video recordings may not distribute, broadcast, or use the recordings and video recordings obtained for other improper purposes.
Violators of the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be fined from thirty thousand to three hundred thousand New Taiwan dollars by the local court of the location of domicile or residence or the place of business or office of the perpetrator. However, other special laws shall apply if any such exist.
The procedures for punishment and relief in the preceding paragraph shall be governed mutatis mutandis by the relevant laws and regulations.
Chapter Seven - Supervision over Judicial Administration
Article 39
Administrative supervision of the Intellectual Propertyand Commercial Court is as follows:
1. The President ofthe Judicial Yuan supervises the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court and its branches.
2. The President ofthe Intellectual Property and Commercial Court supervises his or her court and its branches.
Article 40
Persons with the supervisory powers in the preceding article may impose the following restrictions on the supervised personnel:
1. Issue orders to urge attention tomatters concerning job duties.
2. Impose penalties or disciplinary actions according to the law on persons performing poorly, acting ultra vires, or misbehaving.
Article 41
Provisions in Chapter Seven will not affect the independence of the exercise of judicial powers.
Chapter Eight - Supplementary Provisions
Article 42
Decisions given by the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court shall be subject to time limits prescribed by the Judicial Yuan.
Article 43
Nopart of thejudgment of the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court or any branch thereof that involves the trade secrets of a party or third party may be disclosed.
Article 44
Issues not addressed herein shall be governed mutatis mutandis by the Court Organization Act and other applicable laws.
Article 45
This Act shall come into effect on a date to be prescribed by the Judicial Yuan.