Patent authorities from Japan, the United States and Europe will begin discussions towards the introduction of a system for mutual recognition of patents, government sources said Thursday.

If the system is realised, patents awarded in one country, such as Japan, would be issued in the other regions--in this case, the United States and Europe--as well, according to the sources.

Heads of three patent authorities, Japan's Patent Office, the European Patent Office and the US Patent and Trademark Office, will sign an agreement at their Trilateral Cooperation conference to be held next Friday (Nov 17) in Tokyo on setting up a working panel for the purpose.

The standardised application forms would be introduced for trial by the three parties from spring of 2007, with the official introduction planned for 2008, said the sources.

If the system is realised, Japanese companies, for instance, will save about 84 billion yen (US$713 million) annually in costs necessary for taking patents in the United States and Europe, including charges for filing applications and expenses for chartered patent agents. The new process also will speed up the process of taking foreign patents considerably.

Under the patent mutual recognition system, if Japan's Patent Office approved and registered an invention, the US and European patent offices would register it without examination.