What's New
Refund of Request for Examination Fees
The half amount of the request for examination fee shall be refunded to the applicants upon their request if they withdraw or abandon the application before the examination procedure has been started. Applicants who filed a request for examination but have found that the need to obtain patent does no longer exist or have found a lack of patentability of the application can use this system.
1) Targeted application
A half refund of the request for examination fee should be claimed after the application is withdrawn or abandoned. Withdrawal or abandonment for refunds should be submitted before an examiner starts the examination procedure (in other words, before notice concerning any of the first office actions from an examiner is received by the applicant).
2) Time limit for claiming refund
Refunds should be claimed within six months from the withdrawal or abandonment of the application. The time limit for claiming refunds shall be determined based on the date of submission of written withdrawal or abandonment.
3) Amount of refund
The half amount of the request for examination fee shall be refunded.
4) Note
This system is beneficial because the average period of waiting for examination is 28.5 months (2008).
