USPTO, EPO Announce Extension of Patent Prosecution Highway
The EPO and USPTO today announced that they intend to extend the trial period for the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Program until January 28, 2012, effective October 2010. This is the second extension of this pilot program between the two examining authorities.
Under PPH agreements, an applicant receiving a favorable ruling from one nation's patent office on at least one claim in an application may request that the corresponding application filed with the other nation advance out of turn for examination. By coordinating patentable results between both nations' offices, applicants can expect to obtain patents in both nations more quickly.
View the EPO notice on the latest extension here (link)
View the original USPTO notice here (link)
Updated USPTO requirements for participation in the U.S.-European PPH is available here (link)
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Has any volume filer got a good word to say about USPTO/EPO PPH? Is it not being extended simply for feel-good political reasons?
Much of my time is spent explaining to US clients why claims that are optimal for the US jurisdiction are usually sadly inadequate for Europe, and vice versa. Anybody who wants prosecution speed at the EPO (but few do) should reach for PACE. For whom (except politicians) is USPTO/EPO PPH useful, pray?
The continued global expansion of the PPH is welcome news. Any measure that promises to increase efficiency in the patent application process, reduce the backlog, and improve international cooperation is a positive development.
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