Hon Hai Ranked 44th Worldwide for US Patent Applications

Hon Hai Precision Instruments told its shareholders that it is facing more challenges abroad and that it is attempting to strengthen its technology and research and development. The company was granted 803 patents in the US last year, according to patent database firm IFI Claims, ranking 44th worldwide. According to Taiwan Intellectual Property Office statistics, the group was granted 982 patents last year, putting it in the number one spot in Taiwan for 14 years running. However, the company was in the third spot in terms of new patent filings in Taiwan in 2016, ranking after TMSC and Mediatek.

Qualcomm recently requested an injunction against Hon Hai, and other Taiwanese OEM manufacturers for Apple, including Pegatron, Wistron and Compal Electronics with the District Court of Southern California, demanding that they pay royalties while legal battles between Qualcomm, Apple and the four Taiwanese companies continue.

SIPO Head and WIPO Director Sign Agreement to Strengthen Belt and Road IP Cooperation

On May 14th, in the course of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, SIPO commissioner Shen Changyu and WIPO director general Francis Gurry jointly signed the People’s Republic of China and WIPO Agreement to Strengthen Belt and Road IPR Cooperation in Beijing. This is the first known document on IP Corporation relating to China’s ambitious Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-century Maritime Silk Road initiatives signed between the Chinese government and an international organization. The initiatives are aimed at strengthening China’s global trade relations, although its primary focus is creating links with Central Asia and Europe.

Tencent Worldwide No. 1 In Trademark Applications in 2016

Chinese internet giant Tencent ranked number one globally in terms of trademark applications, according to a Financial Times report.

The trademarks were across several different categories, including gaming, social media and payments. Tencent applied for 4,100 trademarks, according to the report. LeEco, which has consumer electronics, automobiles and film businesses, was also in the top 20, with 2,200 applications. Alibaba applied for 1,700 trademarks.

Singapore Intellectual Property Head Elected Chair of United Nations Committee on Copyright

Daren Tang, chief executive of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore assumed the chairmanship of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) on May 1, at its 34th Session in Geneva. As chair, he aims to steer the SCCR’s discussions on developments to the global copyright regime.

It is the first time a Singaporean has been elected to chair this Standing Committee at WIPO.  The SCCR includes representatives from all 189 WIPO member states as well as the Berne Union.

A WIPO study in 2014, across 42 countries, found that copyright industries contributed an average of 5.2% to national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 5.3% to national employment. In Singapore, copyright industries contributed 6.2% to both GDP and national employment.

The SCCR is currently discussing the scope of copyright protections (e.g. the limits and exceptions) with a focus on (i) educational activities, (ii) libraries and archives, and (iii) persons with disabilities. Another issue currently under review by the SCCR is the international protection of broadcasting organizations.

Tang, said, “I am humbled and honored to be supporting the SCCR's work as its chair. On behalf of the committee, we would like to thank the current chair – Mr. Martin Moscoso Villacorta of Peru – for his contributions to the global copyright system. Together with all WIPO member states, we will continue our efforts to help make a difference, and develop a vibrant and robust global copyright system that fosters creativity and drives economic growth.”

Director general of WIPO, Dr. Francis Gurry, said, “WIPO welcomes the election of Singapore's Daren Tang as chair of WIPO's Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights. Mr. Tang brings extensive experience in IP policy making, as a key player in developing Singapore to become a global IP hub in Asia. I am confident his leadership will advance the SCCR's work during his tenure.”

Taiwan’s Epistar Announces Trade Secret Violation Probe into Employee

Taiwanese LED producer Epistar announced on May 25 that they have launched an investigation into an employee suspected of violating the company’s trade secrets. Epistar stated that the investigation will not affect the business' operations.

Epistar stated that it is working closely with the district prosecutor's office and the Investigation Bureau in the course of the investigation.

China Has Applied for 23,000 Integrated Circuit Patents
Since 2008

China has applied for over 23,000 domestic patents on integrated circuits since 2008, an official told a press briefing Tuesday, according to China’s state-run news organization Xinhua.

Over the last nine years, China has also applied for more than 2,000 international patents on integrated circuits, said Ye Tianchun, head of the Institute of Microelectronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

Over thirty Chinese-developed devices and products have entered the market since 2008, Ye stated, according to the paper.

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