US & Japan - Patent Prosecution Highway to continue on full-time basis

On 21 December 2007 the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Japan Patent Office (JPO) announced that the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) will be implemented on a full time basis from 4 January 2007. As discussed in previous IP Menu news articles, the pilot study of the PPH, which has been running for the last 18 months, was scheduled to end today.

"Under the PPH, an applicant receiving a ruling from either the JPO or the USPTO that at least one claim in an application is patentable may request that the other office fast track the examination of corresponding claims in corresponding applications. By basing the prosecution in the second office on patentable results from the first office, applicants can expect to obtain patents in both offices faster."

The requirements for participation in the USPTO-JPO PPH at the USPTO are being updated and will soon be made available here. The requirements for participation at the JPO can be found here.

Source & further information

USPTO Press Release - USPTO and JPO to Implement Patent Prosecution Highway on Full-Time Basis

USPTO website - Requirements participation in the USPTO-JPO PPH at the USPTO

JPO website - The requirements for participation in the USPTO-JPO PPH at the JPO