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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about PPH Request Form

This page provides a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) about a “Request for Participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program” (PPH Request Form) that needs to be submitted with an “Explanation of Circumstances Concerning Accelerated Examination” when the applicant files a PPH request with the Japan Patent Office. For how to prepare a PPH Request Form, please also refer to “How to use a web form for PPH Request Form (PDF:3,139KB).”

List of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

(1) General questions

(2) Questions about how to prepare request forms

(3) Questions about how to complete a web form

(4) Questions about functions of a web form

List of answers

(1) Answers to general questions

Q1-1) I downloaded a web form but don't know where it is saved.

It may be saved at a default download location (e.g. desktop, download folder). Please check the location on the settings screen of your browser, or set a new download location on the same screen and download again.

List of FAQ

Q1-2) Is it OK to use a web form in a browser other than those confirmed compatible such as Google Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Internet Explorer11 for Windows, and Google Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari for Mac?

There is no problem with using a web form in any browser. But please understand that the form may not be displayed properly and that the image data may not be generated properly, when used in a browser not confirmed compatible. If you use such a browser, please make sure that the image files of your PPH Request Form prepared using the web form are properly created.

List of FAQ

Q1-3) When I changed the size of a web form displayed in my browser, characters in the menu area on the left side were not displayed properly.

There is a minimum font size in Google Chrome. If you zoom out too much, the text in a web form may be cut off partially. In such a case, increase the screen size.

List of FAQ

Q1-4) I can't download a web form in my work environment. Is it allowed to request PPH by the same procedure as before?

You can still file a PPH request by directly completing an “Explanation of Circumstances Concerning Accelerated Examination” without using a PPH Request Form. Please check examples of completion in ”How to file a PPH request using only the Explanation Form (without a PPH Request Form)”.

List of FAQ

(2) Answers to questions about how to prepare request forms

Q2-1) The OEE's office action cites a non-patent document. How should I cope with this?

None of non-patent documents can be omitted to be submitted (submission by reference is allowed), and all of them need to be submitted as submitted documents. Thus, the required process is as follows:

  1. Tick the check box for “5. A copy of cited non-patent documents is attached” in “C. III Documents cited in OEE work products.”
  2. Generate the image data of the cited non-patent documents to be submitted.
  3. Indicate the title of the cited non-patent documents to be submitted in “List of submitted documents” of an “Explanation of Circumstances Concerning Accelerated Examination” and attach the image data generated in the above 2.

List of FAQ

Q2-2) What is the process for attaching the image of PPH Request Form to an “Explanation of Circumstances Concerning Accelerated Examination”?

To attach the image data of a PPH Request Form, use the “Insert picture” function at the image insertion location of an “Explanation of Circumstances Concerning Accelerated Examination” by selecting image files in order. By selecting “Link to file,” you can attach and adjust the image size.

List of FAQ

Q2-3) The online filing software displays an error/warning message for the image data of a PPH Request Form.

An error / warning message appears when the image data doesn't conform to the image file format of the online filing software. You can ignore the message and send the data even when the error / warning message appears, but be sure to print out the file to be sent and to check the image output result before filing a request. For information on the image file format, please see “image file format” in “Guidance on how to complete application forms using online filing software” (Japanese only).

List of FAQ

Q2-4) I submitted an “Explanation of Circumstances Concerning Accelerated Examination” with the small image data of a PPH Request Form. Is it acceptable?

If the information provided in a PPH Request Form is not visible, resubmission using a “Supplementary Explanation of Circumstances Concerning Accelerated Examination” is required. If you notice the image data is small before submission, please reattach the image data.

List of FAQ

Q2-5) I've found some errors in my submitted PPH Request Form. How should I correct them?

Please explain and correct the errors in “Supplementary content” of a “Supplementary Explanation of Circumstances Concerning Accelerated Examination.” (Resubmission of a PPH Request Form is not necessary.)

List of FAQ

(3) Answers to questions about how to complete a web form

Q3-1) The number of characters is too large to fit in the input field. What should I do?

If the input field is too small, add fields using the “+” button in a web form and continue entry.

List of FAQ

Q3-2) I would like to refer to a non-patent document I submitted in the past, but the document information, such as the title, date of publication, publisher, and number of pages, doesn't fit in the input field due to lack of space. How should I enter the information?

Please use the “+” button to enter all necessary information. You can see entry examples on a web form, or check entry examples on page 6 of ”How to use a web form for PPH Request Form.”

List of FAQ

Q3-3) I completed ”E. Explanation for observations in Box VIII of WO/ISA, WO/IPEA, or IPER” by formatting the text with line breaks, but the line breaks are removed from the text in the generated image data of a PPH Request Form.

Some browsers display the explanation for observations in Box VIII provided in the input field without line breaks in image data due to their specification constraints. Since the absence of line breaks poses no problem, please just check that all the information entered is displayed before submission.

List of FAQ

Q3-4) Are entry examples of previously submitted documents available?

Entry examples are shown on a web form by pointing the cursor to “Entry examples” for “IV. Previously submitted documents” and “VI List of names of documents omitted to be submitted.”

List of FAQ

Q3-5) The OEE's office action is issued in English and available in the dossier access system. In this case where translation is not required, is it necessary to tick the check box for translation?

When the OEE's office action and patentable claims are originally in English, they do not have to be submitted as translation, but the check box for translation needs to be ticked in a PPH Request Form.

If the OEE's office action and patentable claims in English are available in the dossier access system, tick the check box “English translation for ... is available in the dossier access system or PATENTSCOPE” in 2. of “I. A copy of OEE work product and its translation” and 4. of “II. Claims determined to be patentable by OEE and their translation.”

List of FAQ

Q3-6) If the OEE is the JPO, how should I fill in the fields in “C. Required Documents”?

If the JPO is selected as an OEE, the check box, “... is available in the dossier access system or PATENTSCOPE” in “I. A copy of OEE work product and its translation” and “II. Claims determined to be patentable by OEE and their translation” is automatically ticked. You don't have to fill in III. to VI. Please just fill in fields A, B, and D before submitting the form.

List of FAQ

(4) Questions about functions of a web form

Q4-1) I saved my data using the functions of a web form, “Save Temporarily” and “Generate and Save Image,” but don't know where it is saved. (A saving confirmation pop-up doesn´t appear and the data cannot be saved at a desired location.)

It may be saved at a default download location (e.g. desktop, download folder). Please check the location on the settings screen of your browser, or set a new download location on the same screen and save again.

List of FAQ

Q4-2) I saved the image data of a PPH Request Form, but don't know where it is saved. (A saving confirmation pop-up doesn't appear and the data cannot be saved at a desired location.)

It may be saved at a default download location (e.g. desktop, download folder). Please check the location on the settings screen of your browser, or set a new download location on the same screen and save again.

List of FAQ

Q4-3) I couldn't generate the image data of a PPH Request Form properly because a bottom part of the third page turned all black (or white) during processing. What should I do?

It seems that the third page of the image data may not be displayed properly when input fields are added to a certain extent using the “+“ button for “Previously submitted documents,” “List of names of documents omitted to be submitted,” and “Claims correspondence.” If such a problem occurs, please generate a text using the “Generate / Save Text” function and attach the text to an “Explanation of Circumstances Concerning Accelerated Examination,” or file a PPH request by directly completing the “Explanation of Circumstances Concerning Accelerated Examination.” We apologize for the inconvenience.

For how to attach the text generated using the “Generate / Save Text” function to the “Explanation of Circumstances Concerning Accelerated Examination,” please see the “Example of completion: Explanation of Circumstances Concerning Accelerated Examination (text file)” in page 14 of “How to use a web form for PPH Request Form.”

List of FAQ

[Last updated 15 July 2021]

Contact Us

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

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