China: End of Patent Issuance Fee!

SIPO

Among different measures aiming at reducing the burden of administrative costs for companies, Prime Minister Li Keqiang announced on the 4th of April 2018 the cancellation of patent issuance fee.

 

This measure favourable to applicants will be effective on August the 1st, 2018.

The implementation rules of this measure have not been communicated yet by the Chinese Patent Office (SIPO).

From 2015 to 2016 the number of invention patents granted soared by 12.5%. Cancellation of patent issuance fees is likely to continue to fuel this growth, and allow China to maintain its worldwide position of leader in terms of patents granted yearly.