By Christopher P. Singer --
As reported on Patent Docs earlier this month, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office announced in a January 28, 2008 notice that the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) and the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) have now entered Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot projects with the USPTO. The idea behind the PPH is to leverage fast-track patent examination in each office so that applicants can obtain corresponding patents faster and more efficiently in each country. Further, each Office should benefit from work previously done by the other Office, accordingly reducing examination workload and improving patent quality. Participants in the PPH who receive a determination from either the CIPO or KIPO that at least one claim in an application is patentable may request that the USPTO fast track the examination of corresponding claims 
in the corresponding application. Similarly, if the USPTO determines that at least one claim is patentable, the applicant may request accelerated processing of corresponding applications filed at the CIPO or KIPO.
These pilot programs are designed to assess general interest in these programs and are scheduled to last until January 28, 2009, but could be 
extended beyond, or terminated prior to, that date. Full requirements for participation in each trial program through the USPTO can be found at these here (for the PPH with the CIPO) and here (for the PPH with the KIPO).
For additional information of this and other related topics, please see:
- "USPTO Announces Two Additional Partners in the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program," January 17, 2008
- "USPTO and JPO to Implement Patent Prosecution Highway on Full-Time Basis," December 27, 2007
- "USPTO and UK IPO to Collaborate on Patent Prosecution Highway," September 14, 2007
- "Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program to Be Extended," June 28, 2007
Comments