Cheng Wei-Chuan
Attorney at Law Admitted in Taiwan
Inspired by his part-time work at BioBizLaw Inc. while a student in the School of Life Sciences at National Yang-Ming University, Cheng Wei-Chuan continued at the same firm after he graduated, working on patent applications in Taiwan (mainly in the biotechnology field) as a patent engineer. From 2011, he was employed by the Institute of Nuclear Energy Research, an agency of the Atomic Energy Council within Taiwan’s Executive Yuan. He was involved with securing rights and arranging licensing for intellectual property ancillary to research and development into radiopharmaceuticals, biofuels and the like, which are the institute’s main products. After qualifying as an attorney in Taiwan in 2012, he joined Formosan Brothers Attorneys-at-Law and was engaged in work for intellectual property litigation as a trainee attorney. In April 2015, he came to Japan on a scholarship from the Japan‒Taiwan Exchange Association and studied at the Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy at Hitotsubashi University. He completed his studies in March 2017, and joined Kuroda Law Offices in April.
Major matters handled
- Intellectual property-related litigation in Taiwan and non-litigation work
Mr. Cheng represented clients in litigation in Taiwan for matters involving patents, trademarks, copyright and trade secrets. He also drafted and translated contracts for licenses and rights assignments, etc. - Patent filings in Taiwan (especially in the biotechnology field)
Mr. Cheng drafted and translated patent specifications, and responded to office actions. - Proposing and assisting with patent strategies relating to research and development concerning medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology
At the technology development stage, Mr. Cheng assisted clients in obtaining particular intellectual property rights for particular parts of the technologies, depending on their features. For example, he advised a client on matters such as choosing whether to protect its technology by filing patents or as trade secrets. - In-house intellectual property management, creating operational rules and developing intellectual property strategies
Mr. Cheng advised clients on the optimal scheme based on their situation, such as obtaining rights for technology within a budget and methods of utilizing the rights after they are obtained. For example, he advised a client on the type of technology it should file patents for within its budget, and whether it should manufacture under the patent rights it obtains, or license or assign them.
Professional Career
- 2007–2011: BioBizLaw Inc. (including part-time work while at university)
- 2011–2014: Institute of Nuclear Energy Research, Atomic Energy Council, Executive Yuan, Republic of China
- 2014–2015: Formosan Brothers Attorneys-at-Law (trainee)
- 2017–present: Taiwanese attorney at Kuroda Law Offices
Education
- 2004–2008: National Yang-Ming University, School of Life Sciences (Taiwan)
- 2010–2011: National Chengchi University, Graduate Institute of Law (Taiwan)
- 2010–2011: Kanazawa University, Graduate School of Human and Socio-Environmental Studies (exchange research student) (Japan)
- 2015–2017: Hitotsubashi University, Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy (Japan)
Qualifications
- 2010: Japanese Language Proficiency Test, Level N1
- 2012: Passed the National Bar Examination of Taiwan
- 2017: Registered with the Taipei Bar Association (not admitted in Japan)
Languages
- English, Japanese, Taiwanese and Chinese
