Patent Prosecution Highway between the JPO and the USPTO

The JPO and the USPTO have been fully implementing a Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) program since 4 January 2008. Both offices have also been participating in the Global PPH since 6 January 2014.

An initiative to improve the predictability of the timing of the examination on the Patent Prosecution Highway (newly includes results for 2022)

In order to improve the predictability of the timing of PPH examination, the JPO and the USPTO have each set target deadlines for issuing office actions for PPH applications and, on 1 January 2022, started to work in line with the targets.

For specific details, please see the joint announcement below.

• Joint Announcement (in English) (PDF: 83KB)
• Joint Announcement (Japanese Translation) (PDF: 13KB)

The targets set by the JPO and the results for 2022 against those targets are as follows:

	Target	Result (1 January to 31 December 2022)
Average period from completion of PPH request to first office action	Within 3 months	2.3 months
Average period from applicant’s response to subsequent office action	Within 3 months	1.5 months

Please visit the USPTO’s website (External link) to see the targets set by the USPTO and the results for 2022.

The JPO and the USPTO will each set the same targets for 2023 to further increase the predictability of the timing of PPH examination and work harder in line with the targets. The two offices will encourage other offices to join this initiative to expand the efforts to improve the predictability of the timing of PPH examination.

How to make a request

Guidelines (Requirements and procedures in detail) and Request form for Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)

Link

USPTO website about the Patent Prosecution Highway program( External link )

Development of the PPH program between the JPO and the USPTO

Japanese page

[Last updated 30 June 2023]

Contact

Examination Policy Planning Office Administrative Affairs Division Patent and Design Examination Department Japan Patent Office Tel: +81-3-3581-1101 (ex. 3103) E-mail: PA2260@jpo.go.jp