A proposed national technology protection law drafted by the National Science Council (NSC) should be flexibly adjusted by incorporating opinions from high-tech industries in order not to cause opposition from businessmen or a downturn in the stock market, legislators said yesterday.
At a meeting convened by the Legislative Yuan's Sci-tech and Information Committee yesterday, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Julian Kuo (
"If it's too strict, businessmen will be reluctant to invest," Kuo said.
Kuo reminded his colleagues from the ruling DPP that passing the law now could be detrimental to the party's chances winning the presidential election next March.
People First Party (PFP) Legislator Pang Chien-kuo (龐建國) said existing laws -- such as the Trade Secrets Act (營業秘密法), the Patent Law (專利法) and other administrative orders regulating sensitive high-tech industries -- can already limit the export to China of sensitive high technology.
Responding to the legislators, NSC Minister Wei Che-ho (
Tsay Ching-yen (
According to a draft of the law by the Cabinet, representatives from the industry and academic circles should account for at least one third of committee members.
To prevent the disclosure of high-tech know-how by profit-seeking businessmen, Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) legislators made passage of the law a priority in the current legislative session.
The TSU opposes the transfer of 8-inch wafer foundries to China and wants to ensure that Taiwan maintains its lead in chip production and other high-tech industries, said Liao Pen-yen (
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