INFORMATION FROM THE EPO
Extension of the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot programmes
The PPH programme enables an applicant whose claims have been determined to be patentable/allowable to have a corresponding application filed with a PPH partner office processed in an accelerated manner while at the same time allowing the offices involved to exploit available work results.
The Trilateral offices have agreed to extend the duration of their current PCT PPH pilot programme1 that allows for the utilisation of PCT international phase work products in the regional/national phase.
Furthermore, the EPO and the USPTO as well as the EPO and the JPO have agreed to extend their respective PPH bilateral pilot programmes2 that involve the utilisation of national work results.
The extension of these pilots will also involve a revision of the applicable participation conditions and requirements aiming at streamlining the PPH and in particular at promoting the user-friendliness and efficiency of the scheme.
Further details will be made available via the EPO website and Official Journal.
1 See OJ EPO 2010, 69 f.
2 See OJ EPO 2010, 518 f. and OJ EPO 2010, 57 f.