Taiwan to assemble a patent “bank” to assist manufacturers in IP disputes

Taiwan has taken the first step towards creating a patent “bank,” reportedly to assist Taiwanese manufacturers facing patent disputes from foreign companies. Should a manufacturer be sued, it could turn to the bank to find patents to enhance negotiations or with which to countersue.

The patent bank will be administered by the quasi-governmental Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and will be patterned after Intellectual Discovery in South Korea and Innovation Network Corporation of Japan.

These banks create still another market for patents, as the agencies will buy patent rights that might be asserted against their members.