China: patent fee reduction
On July 27, 2016, the Ministry of Finance of China, jointly with National Development and Reform Commission, issued Regulations on Reducing Patent Fees coming into force on September 1, 2016.
The aim of the introduced changes is to make patent registration and maintenance more available for national applicants and patent holders belonging to the following groups:
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natural persons whose average monthly income of the previous year constituted less than 3,500 RMB – approx. 525 USD (less than 42,000 RMB per year – approx. 6,310 USD);
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legal persons whose annual income of the previous year constituted less than 300,000 RMB – approx. 45,000 USD;
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state and social organisations, non-profit scientific research institutes.
The above-mentioned groups get the right to request 85 per cent reduction of the fees for: filing a patent application (excluding publication fee and any other additional filing fee), substantive examination, maintenance of a patent (1st to 6th annuities), and re-examination. In case there are two or more co-applicants or patent co-owners that meet the provisions of the preceding paragraph, it is possible to file a request for a reduction of 70 per cent. Reduction for the above-mentioned fees can be requested for the unpaid fees only.
We will keep you updated whether alike reductions will be implemented for foreign applicants.
To get an actual quote for patent filing and registration in China please visit our quotation system. You are also welcome to review our brief applicant’s guide for registration of the IP rights in China:
Author: Lynda Miller