This year the US beat Japan in patent application filing for the first time since 1963 , but Nippon is prepared to bounce back. In fear of falling back in international competitiveness in the future, the Japan Patent Office introduced a new system to accelerate examinations of patents on a trial basis October 1 (“to become the world’s most advanced IP-based nation”).
The so-called “super accelerated examination system” is open to companies, individuals or public institutions applying for a foreign patent and proving there is an urgent need to protect their IP. Tokyo-based elite university Keio seems to be the first to have fulfilled both conditions: On October 1st, It has submitted an examination request for a process to detect toxic metals in water (developed by a group of Keio students). The Japanese Patent Office today decided to grant a patent on this process after just 17 days of screening and said this is a world record. Keio University will pay the necessary fees next week and instantly obtain the patent. The average time of deciding upon patents in Japan is two years.
