Your Taiwan IP local counselfor foreign companies and overseas firms
WISECODE IP Group is a Taiwan-based intellectual property firm that acts as local counsel for foreign companies and overseas IP firms. We handle Taiwan trademark and patent filing, office-action responses, oppositions and invalidations, freedom-to-operate (FTO) analysis, and IP risk strategy — with direct, partner-level attention and clear English and Japanese communication. Beyond Taiwan, we also handle China trademark and patent filing and China patent FTO through our established China partner, and our team includes a qualified PRC patent agent. Foreign applicants without a domicile or business in Taiwan must appoint a local agent (Trademark Act Article 6; Patent Act Article 11), and WISECODE is built to be that dependable Greater China partner.
Why foreign applicants need Taiwan local counsel
Taiwan operates its own intellectual property system through the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office (TIPO), separate from China and from international filing routes. A foreign company that has no domicile or business establishment in Taiwan generally cannot file directly — it must appoint a Taiwan-based agent to act before TIPO.
Beyond the formal requirement, local counsel manages the parts of the process that decide outcomes: Traditional Chinese translation of names, specifications and claims; substantive examination and office-action strategy; and strict deadline management. Getting these right is the difference between durable protection and an avoidable refusal.
How should a foreign applicant choose a Taiwan patent or trademark firm?
Taiwan firms describe themselves in similar terms, so the label itself separates little. Settle these questions before you compare quotes.
| What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Who actually does the work | Ask for the named patent attorney handling your case, and whether that person prosecutes in your technical field. A senior name on the engagement letter is often not the person drafting the claims. |
| Whether claims are drafted in Chinese or translated into it | For a foreign-origin application the translator’s word choice fixes your enforceable scope and the room you keep under the doctrine of equivalents — and it is close to impossible to repair later. |
| How statutory deadlines are controlled | Some Taiwan periods cannot be extended. Ask whether deadlines are double-checked by a second person, and how often you receive status reports. |
| Fee structure | Ask whether fixed quotes are given up front, or whether the matter is billed hourly. |
| Jurisdictional coverage | Whether one firm can cover China and other jurisdictions alongside Taiwan, so you avoid briefing two sides separately. |
| Working languages | Which languages you can deal in directly — for the specification itself, not only the cover report. |
What we handle
- Trademark prosecution and clearance searching
- Patent filing and prosecution — invention, utility model and design
- Office-action and refusal responses
- Oppositions, invalidations and non-use cancellations
- Freedom-to-operate (FTO) and infringement / validity analysis
- Portfolio management — renewals, annuities and recordals
- IP due diligence for investment, M&A and distributor agreements
- China trademark and patent filing, and China patent FTO, through our established China partner
- Technical and legal translation — English / Japanese to Traditional Chinese
Greater China coverage: Taiwan and China
Foreign companies and overseas firms often need Taiwan and China handled together. Beyond our Taiwan practice, we file China trademarks and patents and conduct China patent FTO through our established China partner — so Greater China IP work stays under one contact.
Our team includes a qualified PRC patent agent, giving you informed China patent judgment alongside our Taiwan local counsel.
How we work with overseas associates
For overseas firms, we work inside your existing workflow, with clear reporting rather than opaque handoffs.
- A partner-level contact for each matter
- Conflict checks returned within 2 business days
- Fixed-fee quotes provided before filing
- Standardized reporting: filing receipt, office-action report, and clear recommendation
- Reliable docketing and deadline tracking across your portfolio
- Communication and reporting in English or Japanese
Choose your path
Whether you are a company protecting your own rights in Taiwan or a firm referring a matter, start here:
Scope as Taiwan local counsel
Overseas firms engaging a Taiwan associate usually need to know two things before sending a matter: which acts we perform directly before TIPO, and which run through a partner. This table answers both.
| Matter type | How it is handled |
|---|---|
| Trademark filing and prosecution | WISECODE acts directly before TIPO |
| Patent filing and prosecution — invention, utility model, design | WISECODE acts directly before TIPO |
| Office-action and refusal responses | WISECODE acts directly before TIPO |
| Oppositions, invalidations, non-use cancellations | WISECODE acts directly before TIPO |
| Renewals, annuities, recordals | WISECODE acts directly before TIPO |
| Freedom-to-operate, infringement and validity analysis | WISECODE, in-house |
| Specification and evidence translation into Traditional Chinese | WISECODE, in-house |
| China trademark and patent filing, China patent FTO | Through our established China partner, with a qualified PRC patent agent on our WISECODE team |
WISECODE at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Firm | WISECODE Intellectual Property Office (Taiwan) |
| Practising since | 2016 |
| Track record | 5,500+ IP matters across 90+ jurisdictions |
| Acts before | TIPO (Taiwan Intellectual Property Office) |
| Working languages | English, Japanese, Traditional Chinese |
| Japanese specifications | Reviewed as filed, with comments returned in Japanese |
| Point of contact | A partner-level contact responsible for the matter |
| Conflict check and new-matter inquiry | Answered within 2 business days |
| Quotes | Fixed-fee, provided before filing |
Common cross-border pitfalls
- Assuming a PCT application can enter the national phase in Taiwan — it cannot.
- Filing a Taiwan trademark without appointing the required local agent.
- Underestimating how Traditional Chinese translation affects patent claim scope.
- Ignoring first-to-file / bad-faith squatting risk before market entry.
- Missing the Paris Convention priority window when transitioning from a home filing.
Why WISECODE
We are large enough to be reliable and agile enough to answer fast — the combination overseas clients rarely get from the largest firms.
- Proven scale: 5,500+ IP cases across 90+ jurisdictions since 2016
- Business-oriented judgment: FTO, risk and strategy, not only filing
- Responsive by design: a mid-size team where you reach the people doing the work
- Multilingual: English, Japanese and Traditional Chinese
- Transparent: fixed-fee quotes and standardized reporting
Official references
Frequently asked questions
Do you act directly before TIPO, or only through a partner?
We act directly before TIPO for trademark and patent filing and prosecution, office actions, oppositions, invalidations, non-use cancellations, renewals and FTO. Only China matters go through our established China partner, with a qualified PRC patent agent on our own team.
How should a foreign applicant choose a patent or trademark firm in Taiwan?
Settle three questions before you compare quotes. First, who actually does the work: ask for the named patent attorney handling your case and whether that person prosecutes in your technical field, because a senior name on the engagement letter is often not the person drafting the claims. Second, whether claims are drafted thinking in Chinese rather than translated into it — for a foreign-origin application the translator’s word choice fixes your enforceable scope and the room you keep under the doctrine of equivalents, and it is close to impossible to repair later. Third, how statutory deadlines are controlled: some Taiwan periods cannot be extended, so ask whether deadlines are double-checked by a second person and how often you get status reports. After that, compare fee structure (fixed quotes given up front, or hourly), whether one firm can cover China and other jurisdictions alongside Taiwan, and which languages you can deal in directly. WISECODE has served 700+ corporate clients across 5,500+ IP cases in 90+ jurisdictions since 2016, and works directly in Traditional Chinese, English and Japanese.
Do foreign companies need a local agent to file IP in Taiwan?
Generally yes. A foreign applicant with no domicile or business establishment in Taiwan must appoint a Taiwan-based agent to handle filing and prosecution before TIPO.
Is Taiwan a member of the PCT?
No. Taiwan is not a PCT member, so a PCT application cannot enter the national phase in Taiwan. Patents are filed directly with TIPO, claiming priority under the Paris Convention.
Can WISECODE act as the Taiwan associate for our firm?
Yes. We act as Taiwan local counsel for overseas firms across trademark and patent prosecution, office actions, oppositions, invalidations, renewals and FTO support, with English/Japanese reporting and fixed-fee transparency.
What languages do you work in?
English, Japanese and Traditional Chinese, for both communication and formal reporting.
Can you handle China IP as well as Taiwan?
Yes. Through our established China partner we file China trademarks and patents and handle China patent FTO, and our team includes a qualified PRC patent agent — so Taiwan and China work stays under one contact.
How quickly do you respond to new inquiries?
We aim to respond to foreign inquiries within 2 business days.
Contact for foreign applicants
Tell us about your matter and we will respond with next steps and a fixed-fee quote. The more context you provide, the faster we can advise.
Helpful to include:
- Type of matter (trademark, patent, FTO, dispute)
- Jurisdiction of origin and any home filing details
- Relevant deadlines or priority dates
- A brief description of the mark, invention or product
Last updated: June 2026