Top of Notices   (212)  December 27, 2011

US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

Print This Notice 1373 CNOG  864

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)

(212)     Extension of the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program
                     Between the USPTO and the UKIPO

   On September 4, 2007, 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 United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office
(UKIPO) to have the corresponding application filed in the USPTO be
advanced out of turn for examination. See notice entitled "Patent
Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between the United States Patent and
Trademark Office and the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office," 1322
Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 258 (September 25, 2007). The USPTO indicated that
the pilot program would last for a period of one year ending on September
4, 2008, but may be extended for an additional time period thereafter.

   The requirements of the PPH pilot program were modified on January 28,
2008 to permit certain applications based on PCT filings to qualify for
participation in the PPH pilot program (the September 25, 2007 notice
excluded PCT applications). See notice entitled "Revised Requirements for
Requesting Participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program in
the USPTO (Between the USPTO and the UKIPO)," 1327 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 54
(February 5, 2008).  In view of this recent modification, the USPTO has
decided to extend the PPH pilot program until further notice. The USPTO and
UKIPO will evaluate the results of the pilot program periodically to
determine whether and how the program should be fully implemented at a
later date.

   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.

August 29, 2008                                                   JOHN DOLL
                                                   Commissioner for Patents

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