China changes national defence patent fee thresholds
The Chinese Ministry of National Defence (MND), on 26 April, reported that the Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission (CMC) will alter the national defence patent fee thresholds.
The aim of move is to ‘reduce the burden of innovation entities and encourage the innovative development in defence technology and equipment construction’, according to an MND statement.
This will result in a shift in the threshold for reduced fees meaning that individuals with a monthly income of $500 instead of $700 will be able to access the lower patent fee.
For businesses, the new threshold for reduced rates will be $140,000 of taxable income in the previous year instead of the previous threshold of $43,000.
Public institutions, social organisations, non-profit scientific research institutions and military units which request fee reductions will also no longer be required to submit certification and other evidence of financial difficulties.
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