Japan to Relax Requirements for Super Accelerated Examination for Venture Companies

In order to make the acquisition of patents easier for venture companies who may need to acquire patents quickly, the Japanese Patent Office will be easing the requirements for qualifying for the super accelerated examination program.

Under the current program qualifying applications must be intended to be implemented within the next two years and also be internationally filed. The relaxed rules would allow applicants who intend to implement the invention within the next two years but have not filed internationally to qualify for the super accelerated examination program.

Generally, a first office action would be received about nine months after filing the Request for Substantive Examination. However, under the super accelerated examination program, a first office action is received about one month later.

At the earliest, the JPO expects to implement these changes sometime this year.