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Amendment allows convicts to change names sooner

Convicts will be allowed to apply to change their names three years after the completion of their prison sentence following the legislature's approval of the third reading of the Name Act (姓名條例) yesterday.

The bill, proposed by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chen Ken-te (陳根德) reduced the required waiting period for former prisoners who wish to change their names from five years.

"Many people hope to change their names after they get out of jail because many people believe it will bring good luck. So it is a good thing for us to shorten the waiting period for people who have paid their debt to society. They deserve a second chance to resume a normal life as soon as possible," Chen said.

Chen made the remarks during the legislative session yesterday afternoon. He said he proposed the amendment on Nov. 26 and he was glad to see lawmakers across party lines support the idea.

The amendment also allows family names to be changed when an adoptive relationship begins or ends.

It further stipulates that women can change their family name following a divorce.

In addition, the amendment stipulates that Aboriginal people whose family names were wrongly registered when they were rendered into Chinese decades ago could apply to the Ministry of the Interior to have them corrected.

In addition, the legislature also approved amendments to the Indigenous Peoples Intellectual Property Act (原住民族傳統智慧創作保護條例) in the afternoon session.

The act was first proposed and approved in 2000.

The changes were proposed by the Cabinet's Council of Indigenous People on Nov. 26 along with the amendment concerning Aboriginal names.

Infringement of indigenous intellectual property rights, including traditional music and lyrics, can be penalized with compensation claims of up to NT$6 million (US$185,750), the newly passed act says.

Victims of intellectual property rights infringement can seek compensation ranging between NT$50,000 to NT$3 million under normal circumstances and up to NT$6 million if the infringement is found to be "extremely serious," the act stipulates.

The act also stipulates that if intellectual property is considered to be the collective property of an Aboriginal tribe or community, members of the tribe or community should establish a foundation to manage any profits generated from the asset.
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