Taiwanese Firms Expand Intellectual Property Through Cross-Sector Adaptations
Companies at TCCF showcase strategies for transforming books into plays, fragrances, and travel.
1Cross-Sector IP Strategy
At the Taiwan Creative Content Fest, industry leaders discussed transforming original stories into diverse formats. Companies like IPis Innovation utilize a one-source, multiple-uses model to expand content beyond books. This approach aims to create sustainable revenue streams by integrating stage plays, series, fragrances, and travel itineraries into a single intellectual property ecosystem.
2Modeling After Korea
Mimi Wang, COO of IPis Innovation, noted that their strategy draws inspiration from South Korea’s thirty-year history of IP adaptation. By fostering collaboration between fashion, electronics, and creative industries, Korea successfully launched the Korean Wave. Taiwan now seeks to replicate this success by aligning cultural products with broader industrial investment and policy support.
3Testing Market Demand
Books serve as cost-effective starting points for IP development because they already possess established reader bases. IPis Innovation uses stage productions to test audience interest before committing to expensive screen adaptations. For instance, the play Marital Lost Love, based on a book by Deng Hui-wen, sold out three runs before launching related podcasts.
4Award-Winning Development
The series project Do You Still Love Me? won five awards at the 2025 TCCF Pitching session. Its success stemmed from a clear, engaging narrative that demonstrated significant business potential. Future plans for this project include brand partnerships, product placement, a reality show revival, and a feature film titled 99 Days to Countdown.
5Cultural Identity Pillars
IP development plans at IPis Innovation rest on three pillars: emotional resonance, ESG standards, and Taiwanese values. The novel Siwei Street No. 1 exemplifies this, with plans for a stage version accompanied by food events. These events draw on historical cookbooks, attracting potential interest from Japanese partners for future licensing and collaborative opportunities.
6Investor Profitability Formula
Erica Wang, CEO of the Taiwan Creative Content Agency, emphasized that successful investments require profitability, stability, and growth. Investors must identify a clear formula for success through cross-sector applications. This strategy ensures that creative works can transition effectively into various commercial formats while maintaining the core appeal of the original intellectual property.
7Rights and Spillover Value
Owen Lee of udnFunLife focuses on the logistical side of IP, specifically the availability of rights. His company prioritizes projects where adaptation and sequel rights are clearly defined. They also evaluate spillover value, assessing whether an IP’s premise adapts easily to new formats, which significantly reduces the marketing costs required for new audiences.
8Future Growth Potential
Taiwanese firms see strong potential in live-action film, television, and theater properties. Recent initiatives include exhibitions for the horror film The Rope Curse 3 and planned mobile VR experiences for the fourth installment. Ultimately, creators are encouraged to focus on audience desires, ensuring personal stories resonate with the wider public across platforms.