－Introduction

Historical Background

- In 1989, the Institute for Information Industry (III) established an Information Law Research Unit within its Market Intelligence Center (MIC). The Center was aimed to assist Taiwan's information industry keeping pace with global trends and building first-rate international competitiveness by creating a sound legal and regulatory environment for the island's high technology to grow and flourish.

- In 1996, the Information Law Research Unit was restructured as an independent unit – the Science & Technology Law Center (STLC) - with funding support from Ministry of Economic Affairs. Ever since its establishment, the STLC has been serving as a think-tank, advising on policy issues regarding science and technology.

 

Our Mission: Commitment to Excellence

- The mission of the STLC is to provide guidance for Taiwan's hi-tech sector to cope with rapid changes in technology, and assist technology companies to achieve new heights of growth and development with its successful experience and a focus on innovation. The STLC has been consistently striving to achieve profound expertise in providing effective and practical solutions in face of challenges from the development of information, technology and globalization. These include consultation on legal affairs for the Institute for Information Industry, advice on technology transfer plan management and assisting government agency in building a high-quality environment for the development of high technology, and guidance for Taiwan's hi-tech industries to identify keys to success in global competition.

- Based on its strengths in legalization and regulatory strategies, the STLC will be expanding its expertise and facilitating more international exchange and collaborations in the future for more impact at the global level. It will develop into a hub of legal and technical advancement that connects Taiwan to business and academia worldwide.

Staffing Credibility in R&D

- The STLC's professional team consists of high-caliber individuals of extensive qualifications. Such a combination makes us highly capable and competitive in coping with various challenges. All the staff in the STLC have obtained a Master's degree Ph.D. or attorney, and are experienced and familiar with the latest developments in technology law in the advanced nations.

- Our staffing policy transcends the boundaries between technology and law, which helps in developing a broader vision for the internationalization of Taiwan's hi-tech sector.

  • Legal research
  • Policy think-tank
  • Drafting and revision of legislation
  • Promotion of legal and regulatory knowledge
  • Education and training
  • Consulting services
– STLC Personnel - Education
  • Doctor 11%
  • Master 68%
  • Bachelor 21%
– STLC Personnel - Background
  • Law 83%
  • Technical 17%

 

Specialized Fields and Services

The STLC assists and advises on the formulation of laws and regulations covering the following areas:

- R&D
  • Technology and Industrial Development
  • Technology Research and Development Plans
  • Technology Transfer
  • Government Procurement
  • International Trade
  • Intellectual Property Rights
- Emerging Technologies
  • Information and Communications Technology
  • Information Security
  • e-Commerce
  • Biotechnology
  • Open Source Software / Free Software
  • Digital Content
  • Nanotechnology
  • Green Technology

Drafting of Laws and Regulations Commissioned by Government Agencies, with Special Reference to:

• R&D

Industrial Technology Development Law (Draft), Technology Protection Law (Draft), etc.

• Science and Technology Development Plans

Regulations Governing Promotion by Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Development of Industrial Technologies by Research Institutions, Regulations for Promoting the Development of Industrial Technologies by Enterprises, Regulations Governing Ownership Attribution and Utilization (Employment) of Research and Development Outcomes Achieved Under Scientific and Technological Research and Development Programs (Projects) Mandated or Subsidized By the Ministry of Economic Affairs and its Subordinate Authorities, etc.

• ICT

Fundamental Communications Act.

• e-Commerce

Electronic Signatures Act; Regulations Governing the Recognition of Overseas Evidence-issuing Agencies; Regulations Governing the Management of Evidence-issuing Agencies, etc.

• Biotechnology

Genetic Modified Technology Act (Draft), Human Organ Depository Management Regulations (Draft), etc.

• Digital Content

Digital Content Industry Development Statute (Draft); Regulations Governing the Classification of Computer Software, etc.

• Intellectual Property Rights

The Criteria for the Granting of Patents for Inventions Relating to Computer Software, etc.

 

Recommendations Regarding the Enactment and Revision of Laws and Regulations

  • December 1997 onwards–
    Recommendation the revision of the Copyright Law in light of the rapid development of the Internet (a Revision of the Copyright Law was promulgated in 2003)
  • April 1998 onwards–
    Recommendation that Article 6 of the Fundamental Science and Technology Act be enacted (the Law was enacted in January 1999)
  • January 1999 onwards–
    Suggesting that the Government Scientific and Technological Research and Development Results Ownership and Utilization Regulations be enacted (these Regulations were promulgated in February 2000)
  • May 1999 onwards–
    Recommendation the revision of the Fundamental Science and Technology Act so that the provisions of Article 4 of the Government Procurement Act would not apply (this revision was promulgated in May 2003)
  • September 2002 onwards–
    Recommendation that an additional Chapter – Chapter 36 (Offenses Relating to the Use of Computers) – be added to the Criminal Code (this new Chapter was promulgated in June 2003)
  • April 2003 onwards–
    Suggesting for the enactment of the Regulations Governing-Subsidized Procurement for Scientific and Technological Research and Development (these Regulations were promulgated in December 2003)
  • September 2003 onwards–
    Recommendation that the Governing Commercial Electronic Mail Abuse Act (Draft) be enacted
  • June 2004 onwards–
    Recommending the drafting of regulations relating to the data protection of pharmaceutical product (Articles 40-1 and 40-2 of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law were promulgated in February 2005)
  • May 2005 onwards–
    Suggesting for the Regulation of experimental use exemption extending to cover pharmaceuticals R&D (Paragraph 1, Article 57 of the draft revised Patent Law)

 

Publications

• Books
Emerging Technology and R&D

"The Legal Guide of Technology Transfer", "Statute Index for Technology Development Program", "Technology Management Versus Legal Strategies", and "Exploring the Intertangled Biotechnology Law", etc.

Networking and Communications

"Digital Technology and the Law", "The Application of e-Commerce Law", "Guide to e-Commerce Law", "The Future of Digital Technology Law", and "Law in the Digital Age", etc.

Intellectual Property Rights

"Developing Expertise in Business Secret Management", "Intellectual Property Rights – Practical Legal Knowledge", "Developing Expertise in Patent Management", "Principles for Successful Use of Intellectual Property Rights as a Competitive Tool", "Compendium of Rulings in Intellectual Property Rights Cases", "Compendium of Rulings in Cases Relating to Business Secrets", "A Practical Manual of Intellectual Property Rights Management", etc.

• Periodicals

The STLC has published Science & Technology Law Review on a monthly basis since April 1989.

 

Training Programs

The STLC in recent years have organized series important seminars and training programs.

 

Provision of Guidance to Business Enterprises

Projects undertaken by the STLC include the Provision of Guidance for Helping Enterprises to Establish Intellectual Property Right Management Systems, the e-Patents Technology Alliance project, the Industrial Patent Guidance Plan, the Plan for Promoting Patent Development in the IT Sector, the formulation and promotion of TIPS, etc.

 

Handling of Disputes Over Domain Names

Since 2001, the STLC has been handling domain name disputes on behalf of the Taiwan Network Information Center (TWNIC).

- Since its establishment, the STLC has made significant progress in creating a sound law environment for technology development in Taiwan after overcoming many challenges. Over the years, our team has achieved practical benefits with an emphasis on innovation, social commitment and practical solutions.

- Our consistent efforts have made it possible to expand the scope of the STLC's research. The specialized areas include: technology development and industrial development; technology R&D system development; technology transfer; intellectual property right protection; ICT infrastructure; information security; e-commerce; emerging technologies, etc. While monitoring trends in legal and regulatory systems worldwide, the STLC has also been leading Taiwan's hi-tech sector towards the global marketplace.

- The STLC will continue deepening and expanding its research capability and professionalism, while simultaneously keeping pace with major international legal and regulatory practice, so as to achieve the goal of becoming a world-class research institution.
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