Top of Notices   (187)  December 27, 2011

US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

Print This Notice 1373 CNOG  812

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)

(187)                        Continuation of the
                   Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program
                           between the USPTO and EPO

   On September 29, 2008, 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 European Patent Office (EPO) 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 European Patent
Office," 1335 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 196 (October 21, 2008). The PPH pilot
program was originally scheduled to end on September 29, 2009.

   The USPTO and EPO agreed to extend the PPH pilot program for one year
ending on September 30, 2010. See notice entitled "Continuation of the Patent
Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between the USPTO and EPO," 1347 Off. Gaz.
Pat. Office 170 (October 20, 2009). In order to adequately assess the
feasibility of the PPH pilot program, the USPTO and EPO have agreed to
continue to extend the pilot until January 28, 2012, 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 571-272-8800 or via e-mail addressed to
Magdalen.greenlief@uspto.gov.

September 17, 2010                                          DAVID J. KAPPOS
                                            Under Secretary of Commerce for
                                  Intellectual Property and Director of the
                                  United States Patent and Trademark Office

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