Top of Notices Top of Notices   (169)  December 27, 2011 US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE Print This Notice 1373 CNOG  794 

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)
(169)                Continuation of the Patent Prosecution Highway
                   Pilot Program between the USPTO and the
                            Hungarian Patent Office

   On July 1, 2010, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
commenced a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program (PPH) which enabled an
applicant whose claims have been determined allowable/patentable in an
application filed in the Hungarian Patent Office (HPO) 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 Hungarian
Patent Office," 1356 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 258 (July 27, 2010). The USPTO
indicated that the pilot program would last for a period of one year ending
on June 30, 2011, but may be extended for an additional time period
thereafter.

   In order to adequately assess the feasibility of the PPH program, the
USPTO and HPO 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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