USPTO-JPO Patent Prosecution Highway Opens January 4

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Japan Patent Office (JPO) will implement the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) on a full-time basis, beginning January 4, 2008.

Under the PPH, an applicant receiving a ruling from either the JPO or the USPTO that at least one claim in an application is patentable may request that the other office fast track the examination of corresponding claims in corresponding applications. By basing the prosecution in the second office on patentable results from the first office, applicants can expect to obtain patents in both offices faster.

Updated requirements for participation in the USPTO-JPO PPH at the USPTO will soon be made available at: http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/pph/pph_jpo.html. Until then, check out the Printable Form SB/20 ( Patent Prosecution Highway Request Form)

Requirements for participation at the JPO can be found at: http://www.jpo.go.jp/cgi/linke.cgi?url=/torikumi_e/t_torikumi_e/patent_highway_e.htm