The European Patent Office (EPO) is trailing a program to investigate if the work carried out by a patent office when the patent is first filed can be utilised by other patent offices in subsequent filings. The initial trial of the Utilisation Pilot Program (UPP) is to run until April 2008 for filings in Austria, Denmark, Germany and the UK, with the view to full-scale implementation in the future.

“The UPP offers participants fast track handling of the search application. The extended European search report (EESR) will be issued within a maximum of six months. Currently, UPP participants are receiving search reports within 2 months!”

Sources & further information

UK Intellectual Property Office: Utilisation Pilot Project (UPP)

European Patent Office news: UPP: Get on the fast track

European Patent Office: Utilisation Pilot Project