Tuesday, September 15, 2009

High Level of PCT Fees

Respondents of PCT survey, complained of the high level of fees charged to small and medium enterprise. Some of the respondents prefer a differentiated fee structure, similar to small-entity fee advocated by USPTO.

Currently, individual inventors of third world country, such as Malaysia enjoy a 90% fee reduction for PCT filling fee. Americans and Europeans which participated in the survey did not enjoy the fee reduction. The respondents wished that small and medium enterprise can enjoy some form of fee reductions.

The most frequent complain identified in the survey highlights the timeliness delivery of search and examination report. Some comments called for fee refunds when reports are sent late.

The respondents would also like to see more reliance and acceptance of PCT search report and examination results by more national Offices.

The survey was conducted online by WIPO. The report can be accessed here.

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