IP Management

Intellectual Property Management Plan

1. Intellectual Property Management Strategy

Our company actively promotes a dual-axis transformation, establishing Display Technology, Mobility Solutions, and Vertical Solutions as our three main operational pillars. We continuously leverage innovation as the driving force and a key capability for achieving excellence. Therefore, intellectual property rights are regarded as one of our most valuable assets.

 

In addition to valuing our own intellectual property, we also respect the intellectual property rights of others. Our intellectual property strategy blueprint focuses on four key areas: "Patent Management Measures," "Innovation Environment Construction," "Trade Secret Management," and "Risk Management Mechanisms." Since 2023, we have introduced the "Taiwan Intellectual Property Management System (TIPS)," utilizing internal audits and external certification processes to continually improve our intellectual property management practices. This aims to maximally safeguard the rights of employees and shareholders, optimize our competitive advantages, and enhance corporate profitability.

 

Regarding patent management measures, we implement expert advisory meetings to make strategic decisions aimed at maximizing asset value. For innovation environment construction, we have established a comprehensive intellectual property system and platform, with programs such as education, training, and awareness campaigns, as well as incentives for intellectual property innovators, to encourage employee innovation and the creation of high-quality IP assets. In trade secret management, we enforce document and information classification and grading policies to protect innovative results in the most effective manner. For risk management mechanisms, we continuously monitor intellectual property risks and opportunities, executing risk assessments and management to reduce infringement risks and mitigate frivolous litigation.

 

All of these strategies are executed in accordance with our "Intellectual Property Management Guidelines," "Innovation, Patent, and Trade Secret Management Regulations," and "Employee Innovation Proposal and Reward Policies," ensuring effective management of our patents and trade secrets throughout their acquisition, protection, maintenance, and utilization.

 

In recent years, in response to rapidly evolving display technologies, our company has actively developed Micro LED display technology, including cross-domain applications such as large-scale and transparent displays. A primary R&D focus has been to overcome yield limitations. To effectively manage know-how related to these advanced technologies with potential economic value, we have listed "Trade Secret Management" as one of our strategic blueprints. In 2023, we revised the trade secret proposal mechanism, adding a dedicated submission portal to support and encourage our innovative personnel to continuously develop high-value technological innovations. Additionally, through our trade secret bonus system, we motivate innovators to document know-how, promoting a systematic and comprehensive management of trade secrets.

 

Furthermore, to address geopolitical, international trade, or global M&A uncertainties that could significantly impact R&D and manufacturing strategies, our company continuously monitors current developments and adjusts our global patent portfolio accordingly. For example, we have expanded patent filings to ASEAN countries and Europe, enabling us to maintain a flexible and resilient intellectual property strategy that responds swiftly to market changes.

 

2. Patent Management Measures

The following procedure shall be followed if the innovation is determined to be protected by filing patent applications:

  1. Applying for the patent in various countries based on the decision of the Innovation Proposal Evaluation Committee.
  2. During the patent prosecution procedure, adequately controlling the process and doing the best to acquire the most appropriate scope of patent protection.
  3. If withdrawal of any patent application becomes an option because of the denial by the authority or any other reasons, the decision of withdrawal shall be made in the meeting in which at least three supervisors of the Intellectual Property Department should be present.

 

After a patent is granted, the following measures shall be adopted:

  1. The Intellectual Property Department shall follow the maintenance procedure and pay fees pursuant to the regulations of the patent offices of relevant countries.
  2. Conducting evaluation on patent assets and producing patent rating analysis report. The Intellectual Property Department shall arrange a patent asset evaluation meeting to review the rating.
  3. Planning the project for exploitation of patent assets and effective disposition of patent assets based on the overall demand of patent asset management.

 

3. Trade Secret Management

Confidentiality measures shall be adopted on the company documents and information which have been classified as confidential. If any innovation is determined to be protected by trade secret, the following measures shall be taken:

  1. Arranging