Patent Prosecution Highway program between the JPO and the USPTO

The JPO and the USPTO have commenced the full-implemented Patent Prosecution Highway program on 4 January 2008. The both offices commenced the PPH program using PCT international work products (Written Opinion (WO) and International Preliminary Examination Report (IPER)) (PCT-PPH) on pilot basis on 29 January 2010.

(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

• Procedures for filing a request to the JPO for Patent Prosecution Highway program
  (Japanese <PDF 287KB>) (English <PDF 440KB>)
• Example forms for "Explanation of circumstances concerning accelerated examination"(Japanese)

- Patent Prosecution Highway Requests to the USPTO

PPH using JP national work products

• Revised requirements for the Patent Prosecution Highway program
  (Japanese <PDF 249KB>) (English <PDF 663KB>)

The sentence “The PPH 2.0 program commenced on January 29, 2012, and will run for a period of one year ending on January 28, 2013.” is　described on this guideline, but this program has been extended indefinitely.

• Request Form to the USPTO for Patent Prosecution Highway program
  ("Request for participation in the PPH program between the JPO and the USPTO"<PDF 105KB>)

PPH using PCT international work products (PCT-PPH)

• Notice on the Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program
  (Japanese <PDF 232KB>) (English <PDF 1,135KB>)

The sentence “The PCT-PPH pilot program will commence on January 29,@2010, for a period of two years ending on January 28,@2012” is described on this guideline, but this pilot program is extended until 28 January 2014.

The Sentence “A petition fee under 37 CFR 1.17(h) for the petition to make special under 37 CFR 1.102(d) is required and must be submitted” is described on this guideline, but as of May 25, 2010, the USPTO has eliminated the fee for the petition to make special under the PPH programs.

• Request Form to the USPTO for Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program
  ("Requet For Participation In The Patent Cooperation Treaty – Patent Prosecution Highway (PCT-PPH) Pilot Program Between The Japan Patent Office (JPO) and The USPTO "<PDF 105KB>)

- Link

USPTO website about the Patent Prosecution Highway program

Development of the PPH program between the JPO and the USPTO

• Revised Requirements for the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Program [Feb 2012]
• - The extension of PPH pilot program using the PCT international work products between the JPO and the USPTO [Jan 2012]
• -PPH MOTTAINAI Pilot Program: New patent prosecution highway pilot program with relaxed requirements to commence on July 15 [Jun 2011]
• -The full implementation of Patent Prosecution Highway program between the JPO and the USPTO [Dec 2007]
• -The extension of PPH pilot program between the JPO and the USPTO [Jun 2007]
• -The expansion of eligible applications for PPH pilot program to PCT applications [May 2007]
• -Revised Requirements for Requesting Participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program in the USPTO [Jan 2007]
• -Expanding of Eligibility for PPH in the JPO [Nov 2006]

-Japanese page

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[Last updated 7 February 2013]