Japan to grant patent after 17-day screening, world's fastest

TOKYO, Oct. 18 Kyodo - Japan will grant a patent right for a process to detect toxic metals in water to Keio University after only 17 days of screening procedures, the shortest examination time in the world, government officials said Friday.

The university will obtain the patent right as early as next week after paying
necessary fees, the officials said, adding that the period of screening
compares with an average of two months in Japan under the current ''accelerated
examination system'' and about two years under normal circumstances.
Japan has been accelerating efforts to support the development of innovative
technologies and the protection of associated patent rights in recent years in
order not to lose a source of international competitiveness in the future.
Against this background, the Japan Patent Office introduced a new system to
speed up examinations on a trial basis on Oct. 1.
To be eligible for the new system, dubbed the ''super accelerated examination
system,'' it is necessary to apply for a foreign patent and prove that there is
an urgent need.
Keio University filed an examination request with the patent office on Oct. 1
for a process to detect arsenic and other toxic metals in drinking and
discharged water which was devised by a student of the Japanese university, the
officials said.
In January, the university filed for a foreign patent for the process under the
international patent cooperation treaty. The application is still under
examination, they said.
==Kyodo