特許庁全申請をデジタル化　行政手続きの押印全廃へ―経産省

　経済産業省は２日、特許庁が所管する特許出願などの申請手続きについて、全面的に電子化に移行すると発表した。年内をめどに本人確認の在り方などの方向性をまとめた上で、早期実現を目指す。同省が行政手続きで企業などに求めている押印も原則全廃を検討する。
　特許庁では実用新案や商標・意匠を含め約８００種類の申請事務を抱え、法人・個人からの申請件数は年間約３１０万件に上る。９割相当の約２９０万件を対象に既に完全な電子化対応を済ませた一方、厳格な本人確認が必要な約５００種類、１割程度の件数では書面申請のままで、在宅勤務普及などの障害となる可能性が指摘されていた。（2020/10/02-20:23）

The industry ministry has said it plans a full introduction of digital format for patent applications and other procedures handled by the Japan Patent Office, a ministry affiliate.
   The ministry hopes to achieve the shift at an early date after mapping out a policy on identity verification by the end of the year at the earliest, ministry officials said.
   The Japan Patent Office deals with about 800 kinds of applications, including utility models, trademarks and designs, with the number of applications from corporations and individuals totaling some 3.1 million a year.
   The office has already finished digitalizing some 290 applications, or 90 pct of the total. But the remaining 10 pct, involving some 500 kinds, are still processed with paper documents due to requirements for strict identify checks, posing a possible impediment to teleworking.
   At a news conference on Friday, industry minister Hiroshi Kajimaya said that at the ministry, patent applications lead other kinds of applications in terms of number, adding that related bulky documents are managed with "hanko" seals affixed.