Redução do estoque com devolução de taxas ?

Um meio encontrado por alguns escritórios para reduzir o estoque de pedidos pendentes é o de permitir a possibilidade do depositante reaver a maior parte da taxa de exame desde que seu pedido não tenha sido submetido ao primeiro exame e esteja pendente. A medida parece razoável. Hoje no INPI, o depositante paga caro pelo pedido de exame, que terá de esperar por 11 anos, quando muitas vezes irá desistir do pedido, sem ter o retorno pela retribuição paga antecipada para um serviço que não foi prestado !


Na Índia (Rule Amendments - 16 maio de 2016)
The newly inserted sub-rule 4A provides that in case of withdrawal of patent applications for which request for examination has been filed but first statement of objections have not been issued, 90% of fees for non-expedited or expedited request for examination may be refunded to Applicant if he/she requests in newly inserted form 29 (which requires zero fees).
https://iiprd.wordpress.com/2016/05/20/patent-amendment-rules-2016-takes-effect-from-may-16-2016/
http://www.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/in/in133en.pdf

No Japão
A half refund of the examination request fee should be claimed with respect to applications which are subsequently withdrawn or abandoned. Withdrawal or abandonment for refunds should be submitted before notice concerning any of the following first office actions is received by the applicant (i.e. before the examiner commences the examination procedure)
https://www.jpo.go.jp/tetuzuki_e/ryoukin_e/half_refund_system.htm

Na EPO
From today, 1 July 2016, applicants will be able to enjoy a 100% refund on their examination fee for any application they withdraw, or which is refused or deemed withdrawn, before substantive examination has begun. Previously such refunds were limited to just 75% of the fee.  In this context and as an additional service, the European Patent Office will inform applicants at least two months in advance of the date on which it intends to start substantive examination. Initially these letters will be sent only in respect of certain applications according to operational factors, with letters for more applications being issued later.  Any application which is withdrawn, refused or deemed to be withdrawn before substantive examination has begun will benefit from the full fee refund, whether or not the applicant has received the information letter.
https://www.epo.org/news-issues/news/2016/20160701.html