Top of Notices   (166)  December 27, 2011

US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

Print This Notice 1373 CNOG  791

Patent Prosecution Highway

Referenced Items (165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219)

(166)           Continuation of the Patent Prosecution Highway
                          Pilot Program between the
                USPTO and the Austrian Patent Office based on
                    Patent Cooperation Treaty Work Products

   On October 1, 2010, the United States Patent and Trademark Office
(USPTO) commenced a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program based on
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) work products (PCT-PPH pilot program) with
the Austrian Patent Office (APO). The PCT-PPH pilot program enabled an
applicant who has received a written opinion or an international
preliminary examination report from the APO as the International Searching
Authority (ISA) or International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA)
indicating that at least one claim in the PCT application has novelty,
inventive step and industrial applicability to have the corresponding
application filed in the USPTO advanced out of turn for examination. See
notice entitled "Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between the
United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Austrian Patent Office
based on Patent Cooperation Treaty Work Products," 1359 Off. Gaz. Pat.
Office 254 (October 26, 2010). The USPTO indicated that the PCT-PPH pilot
program would last for a period of one year ending on September 30, 2011,
but may be extended for an additional time period thereafter.

   In order to adequately assess the feasibility of the PCT-PPH pilot
program, the USPTO and APO have agreed to extend the pilot in its current
state in order to collect more information before any formal decision on
the program is made.

   Please continue to direct inquiries on the PPH pilot program to Magdalen
Greenlief at 571-272-8140 or via e-mail addressed to
Magdalen.greenlief@uspto.gov.

                                                            DAVID J. KAPPOS
                  Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and
                  Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office

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