Representatives from the European Patent Office (EPO), Japan Patent Office (JPO) and United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently met to address shortfalls in the international patent system and to discuss reforms. Representatives of industry groups , the Institute of Professional Representatives before the EPO and WIPO also participated in the conference. One question which arose was how to reconcile the two systems currently in operation between the Trilateral members – the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and bilateral Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) agreements. IPwatch reported that Dr Gurry, head of WIPO, indicated his support of the PCT, suggesting that the PPH lacked ‘systemic benefit’. The Trilateral participants agreed to support initiatives of the IP5 group (consisting of the EPO, JPO, USPTO and the Korean and the Chinese intellectual property offices) and though agreeing to continue to develop the PPH, acknowledging that the PCT was to remain the principal patent application system. View the EPO account of the conference and see the EPO press release.

Labels: Conferences, Copyright News, Domain Name News, Patent News