翻訳コラム

TPP協定締結に伴う特許法改正の続きです。
新法では、特許権の設定登録が基準日以降にされた場合は、最長で基準日〜設定登録の日までの期間分は存続期間が延長されますが、ここから控除される期間がいくつかあります。その一つです。
特許庁から処分、通知があったが、出願人の申出により処分、通知を保留して欲しいと申し出た場合、その申出の日から保留の理由がなくなった日までの期間が、延長された存続期間から控除されます(新特許法67条3項4号)

たとえば拒絶理由をもらったが、代理人が出願人に連絡がとれないから処分を保留してほしいとの上申書を出す場合です。
上申書提出から出願人と連絡が取れて保留の理由がなくなった日までの期間は、出願人側の事情により審査が止まっていたため、その期間は控除されてしまいます(新特許法67条3項5号)。

特許料の軽減、免除、猶予の申請ができます。この申請があった日からその決定があった日までの期間も、出願人の事情(資力がないなど)で減免猶予の申請をするのですから、その決定に要した期間は控除されてしまいます。
特に1〜3年分の特許料納付又は免除、猶予は、特許権の設定登録がされるための条件です。第1〜3年分の特許料は、申請によりこれが軽減、免除されることがあります。

Greetings readers! Today we will be continuing the amended patent laws covered in the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) agreement.
Under the new patent laws, when a patent right has been registered past the standard date, the deadline of the patent's duration can be maximized to extend from the standard date to the date of registration, but there are a number of things that could shorten this period. The following is such an instance.
If special requests or notifications are issued from the JPO and an attorney petitions for such requests or notifications be put on hold temporarily, then the period that lasts from the date of request until the date that the requested reason expires shall be subtracted from the original period (Article 67 (3)(IV) of the New Patent Law).

As an example, suppose an instance between an inventor, his attorney, and the patent office in which a reason for refusal was issued from the patent office, whereupon the representative of the applicant was unable to contact the applicant. In such an instance a written request could be submitted for an extension.
Suppose then that after submitting the written request for extension, the representative of the applicant was then eventually able to contact the applicant. During this time the investigation of the patent came to a complete halt for a time due to the applicant's circumstances, and therefore this timeframe will be subtracted from the original period. (Article 67 (3)(IV) of the New Patent Law).

Reduction, exemption, and the postponement of patent fees can all be applied for. The time required for determining if a reduction, exemption or delay in fee payment should be permitted or not shall be also subtracted from the original timeframe because any such reduction, exemption or delay is a problem that resulted from the applicant's circumstances (i.e. a lack of funds). (Article 67 (3)(V) of the New Patent Law).
It should be noted that any payments, as well as any exemptions, or delays of fees during the first three years during a patent's registration is a prerequisite for registration of the patent right. The first to third year patent fees may be reduced or be made exempt if an applicant request this.