Applicants for Japanese patents may, by satisfying certain
criteria, receive discounts for certain official fees paid to the
Japan Patent Office (JPO). On April 1, 2019, the JPO modified those
criteria in applicant-friendly ways. First, the new criteria
broaden the scope of small- and micro-entities (SMEs) and research
and development entities (RDEs) that are eligible for the reduced
fees. Second, the new criteria relax the requirements for
requesting the discount. Any application for which a request for
examination is filed on or after April 1, 2019, will be eligible to
pay discounted fees under the new rules, if the application meets
the requirements as an SME or an RDE. The discount applies when
requesting examination, as well when paying annuities for years 1
to 10, and reduces the associated fees by 50% to 66%, depending on
which requirements are satisfied, and the type of business.
