Japan will speed up patent examinations by increasing the number of examiners, promoting outsourcing and urging industries to be more selective in filing application cases, the Japan Patent Office said Thursday.
The number of patent applications in Japan awaiting examination is expected to surpass 800,000 by March. The patent application period has been shortened by law and patent filings have increased as a result.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which has the patent office under its wing, launched a headquarters to expedite the screening process.
The patent office is scheduled to recruit 150 new officers with the goal of raising the number of examined patent applications from 240,000 in the current fiscal year to 290,000 in the next business year starting in April.