Unless a patent was filed in Japan a while ago (before April 1, 2004), the Japan Patent Office (JPO) will be charging more for many of the Japanese patent (including for PCT filings) and trademark fees, effective April 1, 2022. If you need to save money, pay by March 31, 2022, and feel free to consult to verify a payment strategy. You can verify the details on the JPO’s English version of the announcement.
The following fees will change, in particular:
– Patent registration/maintenance fees (7-100% increase of base fees depending on year of registration, 7-50% increase of per-claim fee)
– Trademark registration fees (various rates of increase depending on the procedure)
– International application fees for patents and utility models (transmittal/search fee 12% increase for English applications, much higher rates for Japanese applications to bring closer to English application fees)
– International application fees for trademark registrations (12-17% increase)[1]
Fine print: There are a few exceptions to the deadline for paying the old rates, such as if the 30th day from an Allowance falls before April 1, 2022. See the JPO’s announcement [1].
The JPO is tightening its belt as applications decrease but it continues to aim to be top of the world for examination speed, but needs to adjust with its aging population, shifting global markets, and more. For those aiming to tap the huge aging market and other sectors, take care of the increasing fees.
* The information provided on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice.
** For questions or consultation, please contact us for more information.
Taro Yaguchi
Sources
[1] Japan Patent Office. “Revision of Fees under Amended Patent Act of 2021 (effective on or after April 1, 2022).” March 2022. Accessed March 17, 2022.
Also, more detailed information is in Japanese here: Japan Patent Office. “令和3年特許法等改正に伴う料金改定のお知らせ（令和4年4月1日施行） [Notice of changes to fees under 2021 Patent Act amendments, starting April 1, 2022].” December 2021. Updated March 16, 2022. Accessed March 17, 2022.
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