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Patent Prosecution Highway program between the JPO and the USPTO


The JPO and the USPTO has commenced the full-implemented Patent Prosecution Highway program on 4 January 2008. Following an agreement at the Trilateral Conference held in Kyoto on 13 November 2009, the both offices will commence the PPH program using PCT international work products (Written Opinion (WO) and International Preliminary Examination Report (IPER)) on pilot basis on 29 January 2010. The revision of the guideline this time also includes a streamlining of a part of the current requirements. Please see "Expansion of eligible applications and reduction of proceeding requirements in Patent Prosecution Highway between the JPO and the USPTO" for your reference.

(At the Trilateral Conference in November 2009: Ms. Brimelow, Commissioner of  the EPO, Mr. Hosono, Commissioner of the JPO and Mr. Kappos, Under Secretary  of  Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO)

(At the Trilateral Conference in November 2009: Ms. Brimelow, Commissioner of the EPO, Mr. Hosono, Commissioner of the JPO and Mr. Kappos, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO)

The requirements to participate in the PPH program and the procedures to request to each of the JPO and the USPTO are described in the following guideline documents.

- Patent Prosecution Highway Requests to the JPO

PPH using US national work products or PCT international work products

- Patent Prosecution Highway Requests to the USPTO

PPH using JP national work products

PPH using PCT international work products (PCT-PPH)

- Link

USPTO website about the Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program

Development of the PPH program between the JPO and the USPTO

-Japanese page

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  • <Contact Information>
  • Examination Policy Planning Office
  • Administrative Affairs Division
  • First Patent Examination Department
  • Japan Patent Office
  • Tel: +81-3-3581-1101 (ex. 3103)
  • E-mail: PA2260@jpo.go.jp

[Last updated 29 January 2010]

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