South Africa–Taiwan relations

The Republic of South Africa and Taiwan shall cooperate in the protection of intellectual property rights, including patents, trademarks, and copyrights. This cooperation shall be based on mutual respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each party. The parties shall exchange information and best practices in the field of intellectual property protection. The cooperation shall be implemented through regular meetings and joint projects.

The parties agree to provide national treatment to each other's nationals with regard to the protection of intellectual property rights. This means that each party shall accord to the nationals of the other party treatment no less favorable than that accorded to its own nationals. The parties shall also provide effective enforcement mechanisms to prevent the infringement of intellectual property rights. The parties shall ensure that their laws and regulations are consistent with international standards.

The parties shall cooperate in the prevention of intellectual property infringement, including counterfeiting and piracy. They shall exchange information on best practices and coordinate efforts to combat intellectual property crimes. The parties shall also provide assistance to each other in the enforcement of intellectual property rights, including the provision of evidence and witnesses. The cooperation shall be subject to the laws and regulations of each party.

The parties agree to respect each other's intellectual property laws and regulations, including those related to the protection of trademarks, patents, and copyrights. They shall not require the disclosure of confidential information or trade secrets as a condition for the approval of intellectual property rights. The parties shall also ensure that their laws and regulations are consistent with international agreements, including the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.

The parties shall establish a joint committee to oversee the implementation of this agreement and to discuss matters related to intellectual property protection. The committee shall meet regularly to review the progress of cooperation and to identify areas for further cooperation. The committee shall also provide a forum for the parties to discuss disputes and issues related to intellectual property protection. The committee's decisions shall be made by consensus.