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Intellectual Property & Trade Secrets

Overview

We provide comprehensive IP services, including internal IP and trade secret management systems, enforcement and dispute resolution, contract drafting and negotiation for IP transactions, and strategic IP planning for new business models, products, and services. Our services cover key IP categories such as copyrights, trademarks, patents, and trade secrets, as well as plant variety rights and integrated circuit layout rights, which are particularly relevant to the agricultural and semiconductor industries. We also advise on unfair competition and indigenous traditional knowledge rights, providing clients with broad IP protection strategies.

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IP Management

Effective IP management is critical to corporate governance and long-term competitiveness. We help clients establish IP management systems, implement TIPS (Taiwan Intellectual Property Management System) standards, and draft supporting documents such as employment agreements, service contracts, R&D records, and joint development agreements. We also offer IP training programs to enhance internal awareness and improve IP management practices across the organization.

Trade Secret Management

Trade secret protection requires more than just legal rights—it demands the implementation of reasonable confidentiality measures. We help clients develop and enforce trade secret management systems to prevent misappropriation and manage disputes. We also advise on non-compete agreements and post-employment restrictions to safeguard business interests and minimize legal exposure.

IP Dispute Resolution

Enforcing IP rights is essential to protecting business value. We assist clients in assessing claims, gathering evidence, and issuing cease-and-desist letters. Our litigation team represents clients in IP disputes, including infringement actions and settlement negotiations. We provide strategic advice to help clients resolve disputes efficiently while protecting their commercial interests.

Technology Licensing and IP Contract Drafting

With extensive experience in both Chinese and English IP agreements, we advise on technology transfer, licensing, assignment, joint and outsourced R&D, franchise, publishing, confidentiality, distribution, and agency agreements. Our services help clients structure IP transactions that meet their commercial goals and legal requirements.

Open Source and Creative Commons Advisory

Open source software plays a critical role in modern software and hardware development. We help clients establish open source usage policies, assess compliance risks, and manage licensing obligations in collaboration with technical teams. We also provide training and advisory services on Creative Commons licensing, supporting clients in the creative and public sectors in managing open licensing strategies for non-software content.

Plant Variety Rights Protection

Taiwan has a long history of agricultural innovation. We assist clients in protecting plant variety rights under Taiwan’s The Plant Variety and Plant Seed Act, including evidence preservation, enforcement actions, and licensing strategies. Our team works with rights holders and government agencies to strengthen the protection and commercialization of plant varieties.

IP Strategy and Due Diligence

Before launching new products or services, businesses must assess IP risks and secure appropriate protections. We help clients build IP portfolios that support market entry and competitive advantage. Our due diligence services identify IP risks and opportunities in investment and M&A transactions, helping clients make informed decisions and protect intangible assets throughout the deal process.

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Related Articles

Intellectual Property Use and Management in Corporate Digital Audio-Visual Creation

◎ Lai, Wenchi "When TikTok sounds, parents raise their children in vain" - beyond mocking TikTok's influence on teenagers, we must also acknowledge the fact that audio-visual media spreads more easily than text. Many adults often lose track of time scrolling through short videos on their phones, and elderly people frequently share video files with each other via LINE. Whether actively or passively, enterprises need to enter the field of digital audio-visual creation in order to reach more users with their brands, products, or services. However, compared to text, audio-visual creation has not only higher creative barriers but also more complex copyright issues. The following provides a preliminary explanation of matters requiring attention in the use and management of corporate audio-visual creation. 1. Audio-Visual Creation Usually Involves Multiple Works From advertisements and short videos to TV series and films, all are "audiovisual works" protected by copyright law. However, the bigger problem is that to respond to today's rapidly changing market,⋯

Governance and Challenges of Intellectual Property Compliance in the Age of AI

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Plant Variety Names and Trademarks: Insights from Zespri’s Brand Strategy

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How Should Companies Address Trade Secret Protection Issues with Departing Employees?

This article was generated by NotebookLM from Attorney Lai Wen-Chih's book "From NDA to Trade Secret Management" PDF file. This is an experiment presenting the knowledge contained in a book in different forms using generative AI. Book Purchase Links: Bookstore.com.tw, eslite, momo, San Min, Kingstone, Iread Gray Bear Recently, there was a TechBang report about "Google's Former Engineer Completely Ignoring Non-Disclosure Agreement, Sued After Publicly Disclosing Pixel Chip Details and Internal Files Online." Even a large company like Google faces troubles from departing employee leaks. In fact, employees' confidentiality obligations to enterprise trade secrets are not affected by their departure. As long as the information still meets the requirements for trade secrets under trade secret laws, even after employees leave, they still bear legal obligations not to infringe trade secrets. However, if departing employees actually leak secrets, the damage caused to the enterprise far exceeds what can be compensated through claims for trade secret infringement damages. The best approach is⋯
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