The JPO permitted applicants to defer payment of the official fee for a request for examination for one year. The deferred official fee must be paid within one year from the filing date of a request for examination via an amendment. If the official fee is not paid within one year, the JPO will issue an official order to pay the fee. If the fee is not paid by the due date indicated in the official order, the filed request for examination will be rejected and the Japan Patent Office will deem the application withdrawn and irrevocably lapsed.

If you would like to defer the payment of the official fee for a request for examination, please let us know at the time of submitting an examination request to us.

This regulation will be implemented for two years, i.e., until March 31, 2011.