Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation　Intellectual Property Management Plan and Implementation

 

Part One: Intellectual Property Management Plan

 

I. Introduction

 

Attention to customer’s needs is what motivates Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp. (“Yang Ming”) to keep adding new ideas to its logistics system. Aiming for greater convenience, Yang Ming has been improving and upgrading its digital services over the past few years. For instance, the Line Chatbot, which was launched in 2017, allows users to share the latest information and track the real-time status of containers and ships on their smartphones. This was immediately followed by the introduction of Taiwan's first proof of concept for block-chain international trade. As a result, the processes of marine transport and trade finance are made faster. In 2019, Yang Ming took the lead and launched the first e-D/O (electronic bill of lading) service in Taiwan that allows users to download the delivery order (so-called “small bill of lading”) from the cloud server without having to go through the complicated process of replacing the original import cargo release documents. Considering the different locations for delivery and pickup, Yang Ming also launched the e-receipt service that allows immediate and simple transmission of e-D/O via smartphones and thereby improves the efficiency of customers’ import procedures. The issues concerning Intellectual Property management (“IP management”) that derive from technological innovation, digital transformation, and the development of new types of business models are now being incorporated as part of Yang Ming’s corporate governance. In the Corporate Governance Best Practice Principles for TWSE/TPEx Listed Companies, IP management is stipulated under corporate governance. Regarding this, Yang Ming understands the importance of such management and follows regulations by formulating the appropriate management program on the basis of business characteristics and operating status. Safeguarding one’s intellectual properties and trade secrets while showing respect for those of others is what keeps Yang Ming on the path towards sustainable operation.

 

II. Intellectual Property Management Measures 

　(I) Patent 

1. Yang Ming incentivizes its employees to file patent applications. For inventions or creations that pass the patent feasibility assessment, each department may work with IP law firms to apply for patent rights. Additionally, the Legal Affair Office will assist to manage and maintain the rights of granted patents, and conducts training sessions to strengthen all employees’ awareness of patent protection.
2. Before filing a patent application, employees should conduct necessary search, analysis, portfolio mapping and document relevant files. They also need to keep such information in strict confidence. If a patent is developed in the name of a commissioned third party, the contract therefor shall clearly specify the ownership of patent rights, patent application rights, the relevant personnel's obligations for confidentiality and legal liability for information leakage.

　(II) Trademark 

1. The Legal Affair Office is responsible for the centralized management of Yang Ming’s trademark applications and rights maintenance. All of the units requesting trademark use, including the internal and external ones, are required to use the trademark in accordance with Yang Ming’s corporate logo manual and to not make any changes.
2. An affiliate or a third party that finds using Yang Ming’s trademarks is necessary for business should clearly state in writing the rights and interests as well as the purposes in respect of such use. The trademarks can be used externally only after such usage has been confirmed to be in compliance with the corporate logo manual by Yang Ming’s trademark management department.

　(III) Copyright 
As stipulated in employment contracts, working guidelines, and internal regulations, Yang Ming requires all employees to avoid infringing on other people's copyright with their own creations. Where citations are needed, their usage should be within a reasonable scope and the sources therefrom should be appropriately indicated.

　(IV) Trade secrets 

1. Yang Ming implements access control at all of its premises. Identity registration is required of all visitors, who should be accompanied by Yang Ming's employee throughout their visit.
2. Yang Ming uses employment contracts, working guidelines, and internal regulations to demand all employees' attention to trade secret protection. Keeping business information such as projects, files, client lists that is of economic value in strict confidence is mandatory for all employees during their employment or after their resignation. Such information should by no means be misappropriated for personal use or unjustifiably leaked.
3. The departments/offices managing the control of trade secrets should adopt appropriate confidentiality measure to facilitate their utmost security.

III. Intellectual Property Management Plan 

　(I) Patent 

1. Apart from improving the quality of patents and increasing the number of patents, Yang Ming is seeking to strengthen the protection of its Research and Development (“R&D”) results by building patent portfolios.
2. The internal regulations governing patent application, exercising of rights, and filing of remedies have been formulated to guarantee the protection of patents by Yang Ming.
3. Yang Ming encourages its employees to engage in R&D. Through collaboration with IP law firms, it provides guidance to employees on filing patent applications for their R&D results and offers rewards for significant contributions. At least one meeting is convened every year to review the above results and to improve or optimize existing procedures.

　(II) Trademark 

1. Yang Ming regularly reviews and assesses its corporate trademarks to ascertain their status of use and modify application and management strategies according to the trademark laws in other countries and the needs for business development.
2. Yang Ming follows public opinions and monitors its trademark usage in order to take immediate measures and prevent loss or damage to corporate image due to confusion among customers.

　(III) Copyright 
Yang Ming incorporates intellectual property clauses into its employment and external contracts to maintain proper copyright protection. It is also attentive to adjustments in the legal regime driven by technological development in order to increase employees’ knowledge about relevant laws.

　(IV) Trade secrets 

1. Yang Ming's internal regulations and employment contracts require all employees to keep in strict confidence the information directly or indirectly accessed in the course of performing one's job duties.
2. Yang Ming's internal regulations governing information security control are in place. The information equipment undergoes security updates on a regular basis to lower the risk of confidential information being leaked. Regarding such leakage, relevant coping measures are also in place. Drills are regularly performed to minimize the damages when leakage occurs.
3. Where a contract involves trade secrets, Yang Ming may assess whether to add clauses on confidentiality, penalty, or damages in order to guarantee compliance by the contractual partner.

IV. Disclosure of Information 

 

Yang Ming should regularly (at least once a year) compile the information about the results of implementing IP management and report it to the Board of Directors. The above information should be disclosed in Yang Ming's annual report or official website.

 

Part Two: Implementation 

 

I. YangMing has obtained the following intellectual property rights.

　(I) Patent:
As of November 2024, Yang Ming has obtained 5 invention patent.
 

Approval Date	Patenet Title	Certificate No.
October 1, 2021	Information system for processing Bill of Landiing and servicing method thereof	I741895
February 11, 2023	Delivery method, calculator, and delivery datas system at container yard	I792933
February 11, 2023	Method for Predicting Fuel Consumption of Ship (Collaboration with National Cheng Kung University)	I792418
June 11, 2024	Method for Supervising Vehicle Operations, Client Computer, and Computer-Readable Recording Medium	I845394
September 1, 2024	Method for Auditing and Improving Vehicle Operations, Server Method, Clent Computer, Server, and Computer-Readable Recording Medium	I854947

　(II) Trademark
As of November 2024, Yang Ming owns a total of 64 registered trademarks.

II. To protect Yang Ming’s intellectual property, prevent operational risks derived from intellectual property, and provide consistent management guidelines, Yang Ming has established the following procedural documents:

• On November 7, 2022, the Procedural Guidelines Governing the Management of Confidential Information were formulated and published.
• On December 3, 2023, the Procedural Guidelines Governing Information Access Control were revised and published.
• On October 25, 2024, the Intellectual Property Management Procedures were formulated and published.

III. Yang Ming had formulated IP management plan and disclosed the implementation status on its website and in the annual report. Additionally, Yang Ming regularly reports the implementation status of IP management to the Board of Directors. The implementation status of IP management in 2024 was reported to the Board of Directors on June 21, 2024.

IV. Yang Ming will continue to promote intellectual property rights knowledge among employees through training programs, the topics including but not limited to trade secrets, confidentiality measures, and related legal regulations.