Top of Notices   (168)  December 27, 2011

US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

Print This Notice 1373 CNOG  793

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)

(168)           Continuation of the Patent Prosecution Highway
                   Pilot Program between the USPTO and the
                  Federal Service on Intellectual Property,
                   Patents & Trademarks of Russia 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 Federal Service on Intellectual Property, Patents & Trademarks of
Russia (Rospatent). The PCT-PPH pilot program enabled an applicant who has
received a written opinion or an international preliminary examination
report from the Rospatent 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 titled "Patent
Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between the United States Patent and
Trademark Office and the Federal Service on Intellectual Property, Patents
& Trademarks of Russia based on Patent Cooperation Treaty Work Products,"
1359 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 189 (October 19, 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 program,
the USPTO and Rospatent 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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