Refund of Examination Request Fees for Patents
(posted on our MP&W website) 20 March 2007, 19:10

In Japan, the full amount of the patent examination request fee for applications where an examination was originally requested, but the patent is no longer needed, can be refunded to the applicant if the applicant withdraws or abandons the application before the examination procedure commences. The refund has to be claimed by August 8, 2007 and will be available for one year in the full amount. Starting from August 9, 2007, applicants can claim a refund of only half of the examination request fee.

Source and further information:
http://www.jpo.go.jp/tetuzuki_e/ryoukin_e/full_refund_system.htm (in English)