Upkeep costs of international patents:
The application of international patents by the universities are increasing thanks to backup by the government each year,
and the revenue through the international patent rights of the universities in 2005 was 45,392,000 yen according the
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
Also, due to the fact that the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology assisted only overseas
applications which is much more costly compared with domestic applications since 2004, the number of applications of
international patents by the universities reached to 1,323 cases ( number of countries are counted in case of
applications to multiple countries) in 2005 and is targeted at 1,700 cases in 2006.
On the other hand, when the international patent is applied and the total cost to maintain the right for ten years,
the cost needed for the international patent per case is estimated around EUR47,000 ( 7,050,000 yen, 1EUR=150yen)
through PCT application.
It, therefore, is important for the international patents obtained to transfer into technologies as soon as possible,
revenue them, and put them into upkeep costs of patents.
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( * For more details, please refer to www.european-patent-office.org)
