Japan's Patent Examination Fee Deferral Will Help All Patent Applicants

摘要

In these economically turbulent times, this JPO deferral examination fee system is a welcome short-term reprieve of patent prosecution expenditures, allowing the patent applicant to revisit whether to go ahead with the application in one year's time. Most industry analysts and insiders believe that it could take until 2011 before the overall economy improves and worldwide consumers begin purchasing Japanese exports of flat-screen televisions, and Wall Street and venture capitalists rediscover their appetite for high-risk, high-reward biotechnology ventures. Until then, stretching or deferring any cost outlay will definitely impact the bottom line and even mean the continued viability for the patent applicant as an ongoing enterprise.