Japan Proposes Training for Patent Agents

According to The Yomiuri Shimbun on September 26, 2006, the Japanese Patent Office said it plans to require patent agents to receive training every five years to improve their skills:

In regards to the rising number of applications, an official with the Patent Office's Technology Research Division said, "Patent agents often agree to patent application requests from companies without judging the possibility of acquiring a patent." In some cases, agents try to earn commissions by urging small and midsized companies to apply for patent screening in situations where patents are unlikely to be issued, the official said.