UK, Canada Open Patent Prosecution Highway

by Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

06 February 2012

The UK and Canada have launched a two-year pilot scheme designed to speed up the process of patent applications.

It is hoped the new Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) will provide a boost for economic growth. The scheme will allow applicants who have been successful in obtaining a patent from either the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) or the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) to request accelerated examination of a corresponding patent application filed in the other country.

The PPH agreement with CIPO will also trial the new "MOTTAINAI" model under which requests will be dealt with regardless of the order in which the various applications were filed or the original priority claimed by the co-pending applications.

Minister for Intellectual Property Baroness Wilcox said: "The Patent Prosecution Highway with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office builds on similar schemes that the UK IPO already has with Japan, South Korea, and the United States, which are already delivering benefits for applicants. Applicants and businesses in both the UK and Canada will have quicker and cheaper international patent protection. Speeding up the patent process is an important contribution to boosting economic growth, by helping companies and entrepreneurs turn their ideas into business.”

The pilot commenced on January 31, 2012, and will run for an initial period of two years, ending on January 30, 2014.

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