How to conduct a Taiwan trademark search

Conducting a thorough trademark availability search is the most critical first step before launching a brand or filing a Taiwan trademark registration. Because Taiwan operates strictly on a first-to-file principle under the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office (TIPO), prior search mitigates the risk of infringement claims and costly application rejections.

1. Key Concepts Before You Begin

1. Switching to English: When opening Taiwan Intellectual Property Office Trademark Search System(https://cloud.tipo.gov.tw/S282/S282WV1/), click the “English” button at the top-right corner of the top banner to switch navigation, forms, and tooltips into English.
2. Traditional Chinese Requirements: Different from Mainland China trademark search, TIPO’s database is structured around Traditional Chinese characters. If you search in Simplified Chinese (e.g., 软件 instead of 軟體), the system will miss potential conflict records.
3. Nice Classes & Local Sub-Group Codes (類似組別): Taiwan uses the Nice Classification (Classes 1–45), but TIPO examiners assess item similarity based on 4-digit Sub-group codes (e.g., 0901, 3502).
4. Examination Focus: Examiners look for visual similarity, phonetic resemblance (Mandarin sound-alikes), and semantic translation (e.g., English PANDA vs. Chinese 熊貓).

2. Main Search Modules Overview

On the main search interface, you will find four principal search options:

• Text Search (文字檢索): Search wordmarks, Latin character strings, numbers, or Chinese characters.
  • Exact Match: Matches identical strings.
  • Partial Match / Fuzzy: Finds marks containing the entered string (recommended).
  • Phonetic Match: Queries Chinese homophones.
• Device / Graphic Search (圖形檢索): Find visually similar logos and design elements.
  • Uses the Vienna Classification System (e.g., Category 1 for celestial objects, Category 3 for animals).
• Goods & Services Classification Search: Find standard designated terms, Nice Classes, and 4-digit TIPO Sub-group codes. Includes the Automated Goods and Services Name Recommendation feature.
• Advanced / Comprehensive Search (綜合檢索): Filter by multiple criteria simultaneously, such as Applicant Name, Application Number, Registration Status, or Trademark Agent.

3. Step-by-Step Search Workflow

Step 1: Select Search Module & Class

1. Open TIPO Trademark Search Portal.

   https://cloud.tipo.gov.tw/S282/S282WV1/

2. Select Text Search from the main menu.
3. Enter your target Nice Class in the Class field (e.g., 09 for software, 35 for business/advertising, 42 for SaaS).

Step 2: Query English / Latin Brand Names

1. Type your brand name (e.g., KOVALI) into the Trademark Name field.
2. Set search mode to “Partial Match” or “Contains” to catch similar prefixes, suffixes, or compound forms (e.g., KOVALIS, KOVALI TECH).

Step 3: Query Chinese Characters & Phonetics

1. Transliteration: Convert your English mark to Traditional Chinese (e.g., 科瓦利).
2. Phonetic Search: Select the Phonetic Search option to check for Chinese homophones in Mandarin.
3. Semantic Translation: If your English mark has a literal meaning (e.g., APPLE), search the Traditional Chinese translation (蘋果) in the target class.

Step 4: Examine Sub-group Codes (組別)

1. Click on any conflicting record to open the Detailed Information Page.
2. Identify the Sub-group Code (e.g., 0901, 0904).
3. Rule of Thumb: Items in the same sub-group are presumed similar. Items in different sub-groups under the same Nice class usually do not conflict unless a cross-search rule (跨組別檢索) applies.

4. Understanding Search Result Statuses

5. Summary of Best Practices

1. Always use Traditional Chinese characters when searching Chinese names or product descriptions.
2. Check Cross-Class Rules: Be aware that Class 35 retail services (e.g., clothing retail) are routinely cross-examined against corresponding goods (e.g., Class 25 clothing).
3. Verify Standard Terms: Use TIPO’s gazetted standard list to avoid office actions or requests for amendment during examination.

Hiring a trademark agency to search

However, it’s important to note that even if you see the search results, without professional trademark knowledge and years of experience, you might still be completely confused. Setting aside years of experience in the trademark industry, the book on trademark search judgment alone is a substantial volume.

Generally, graphic searches are charged, but text searches are free.