UK And US Launch Patent Prosecution Highway Scheme

by Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

04 September 2007

It was announced on Tuesday that a 12 month pilot scheme launched this week will speed up processing patent applications in the UK and the United States of America.

The Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) will allow patent applicants who have received an examination report by either the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO) or the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to request accelerated examination of a corresponding patent application filed in the other country.

The aim of the pilot is to test applicant demand for this additional option for speeding up examination of patent applications, and to quantify the quality and efficiency gains to be expected.

Ian Fletcher, Chief Executive of the UK Intellectual Property Office explained that:

"The Patent Prosecution Highway with the US Patent and Trademark Office builds on a similar pilot scheme with the Japan Patent Office which is already showing great promise."

"The UK Intellectual Property Office has high standards in efficiency and quality as reflected in our ISO 9001:2000 accreditation. The PPH agreement with the US Patent and Trademark Office will make a contribution to raising these standards further. I am especially pleased that the improved efficiency and quality expected to arise from this PPH agreement is a direct result of the strong relations that exist between the UK Intellectual Property Office and the US Patent and Trademark Office."

"The PPH helps both offices in their goal of stimulating and rewarding invention and innovation and is a further step towards a global patent prosecution highway network."

He concluded:

"Patent users worldwide want offices to cooperate more effectively. Our collective goal is to reduce duplication of work, speed up processing, and improve quality," said Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO Jon Dudas. "This pilot project with the UK builds on work with the JPO, and contributes to a more rational international patent system."

The development of work sharing arrangements between the UK-IPO and other national patent offices is a key recommendation of the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property.

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