Date: 7 September 2026

【Volume 175】

The Taiwan Intellectual Property Office (TIPO) announced that the Taiwan–U.S. Patent Priority Document Exchange (PDX) program officially took effect on September 4, 2026¹.

Under this new mechanism, TIPO and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) can now exchange patent priority documents electronically and directly between the two offices. Patent applicants claiming priority between Taiwan and the United States are no longer required to submit certified paper copies of priority documents, substantially reducing administrative burdens, courier expenses, and the risk of postal delays.

Importantly, this electronic exchange service covers all three types of patents: invention patents, utility model patents, and design patents, providing comprehensive benefits across various IP filings.

In conjunction with the implementation, TIPO promulgated the Operational Directions for Taiwan-U.S. Patent Priority Document Exchange². Notably, patent applications filed prior to September 4, 2026, are also eligible to request electronic priority document exchange, provided the relevant procedural requirements are met.