New Patent Fee Reduction/Exemption Program Including Academic Discount Has Been launched since April 1, 2019

Japan Patent Information Committee

The JAPAN PATENT OFFICE (JPO) announced that a new patent fee reduction/exemption program (“new program”) directed to simplified procedures for reduction/exemption application and expanded fee reduction/exemption coverage was launched, effective as of April, 2019. The new program is applied to all patent applications for which a Request for Examination is filed on or after April 1, 2019. For details, please refer to the information provided on “A new patent fee reduction/exemption program has been launched” of the JPO website.

In this article, we will introduce academic discount encompassed by the new program. Following is a summary of the academic discount available under the new program.

Procedure:

Stating “an applicant is subject to receiving a reduction” on the Request for Examination of Application document or the Annuity Payment Form is required, but submitting a request for reduction and certificates is not required.

* Please note that the new program is applied only to patent applications As for applications of utility models, submitting a request for reduction and certificates is still required, even under the new program.

Subjects:

Employee invention requirement is no longer enforced. Applications by foreign applicants could also be subjects of academic discount if the applicants are any of the following:

1. University Researchers

(1) University Presidents, Vice presidents, Deans, Professors, Associate professors, Assistant professors, Lecturers, Assistants or other staff members exclusively engaged in research at universities; or

(2) College Presidents, Professors, Associate professors, Assistant professors, Lecturers, Assistants or other staff members exclusively engaged in research at colleges of technology

2. Universities

(1) Entities that have established a University; or
(2) Entities that have established a College of Technology

Examination fee and Annuity Fee Discount:

In certain cases that meet the requirements for an academic discount program, an applicant may obtain 50% reduction in fees for requesting examination and patent annuities without the necessity of complicated procedures.

In a case of a joint application, a university or entity equivalent thereto obtains 50% reduction in the official fee corresponding to its share of the application. For example, if a university has a 50% share of the application, the university will obtain a 25% reduction in the total official fee.