JPO Starts New Fee Reduction System from April 1, 2019

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) has announced that it will introduce a new fee reduction system targeting small and micro entities (SMEs) and research and development entities (RDEs). According to the new fee reduction system, the scope of SMEs and RDEs eligible for fee reduction will be enlarged, and the procedures for requesting fee discount will be simplified. The new system will apply to patent applications for which substantive examination is requested on or after April 1, 2019.