Chinese Authorities Reduce Or Eliminate Certain IP Application Fees

On September 1, 2015, the National Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Finance jointly issued a notice (发改价格 [2015] 2136 号, "Notice 2136") reducing certain administrative fees for trademark and copyright registration applications. The reduced fees came into force on 15 October 2015. 

Besides, from January 1, 2016, to petition for postponing or reducing the payment of annual fees for the first six years a patent's life. Under the current Measures for the Reduction or Postponement of Payment of Patent Fees, this benefit is limited to the first three years of a patent's life.