JPO "Super Accelerated Examination" Allows Patent in Seventeen Days

On October 1, 2008, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) implemented a trial "super accelerated examination" system on a trial basis. According to Japan Today, Keio University received a patent for a process for detecting toxic metals following a screening process that took just 17 days. "The time spent on the examination was the world’s shortest," government officials reportedly said.

According to Keisen Associates, the eligibility is as follows:

a) Applicants that have already requested an examination, but for which the examination process has not yet started (i.e., Reasons for Refusal and other
office actions have been taken)

b) "Working invention-related application", i.e., applications filed by an applicant or a licensee who has already commercialized the invention or plans to commercialize the invention within two years from the filing date

c) "Internationally filed Applications", i.e., applications that were filed with both the JPO and at least one foreign IP Office

d) Applicants that file online

According to Mami Akasaka at Tech-On!, "the JPO is planning to continue the test for at least six months and lead to the revision and official operation of the system after considering the opinions of the applicants who used the test system."