Top of Notices   (178)  December 31, 2013

US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

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Patent Prosecution Highway

Referenced Items (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, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267)

(178)     Continuation of Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Programs
	between the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the
               Industrial Property Office of the Czech Republic

   On October 1, 2012, the United States Patent and Trademark Office
(USPTO) commenced two Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot programs with
the Industrial Property Office of the Czech Republic (IPOCZ).  The first
pilot program (PPH pilot program) enabled an applicant whose claims have
been determined allowable or patentable in an application filed in the
IPOCZ to have the corresponding application filed in the USPTO advanced out
of turn for examination.  See "Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program
between the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Industrial
Property Office of the Czech Republic," 1384 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 47
(November 6, 2012).  The second pilot program, which was based on Patent
Cooperation Treaty (PCT) work products (PCT-PPH pilot program), enabled an
applicant who has received a written opinion or an international
preliminary examination report from the United States International
Searching Authority (ISA/US) or United States International Preliminary
Examining Authority (IPEA/US) 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 IPOCZ advanced out of turn
for examination.  See "Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between the
United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Industrial Property
Office of the Czech Republic based on Patent Cooperation Treaty Work
Products," 1384 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 45 (November 6, 2012).  The USPTO
indicated that both pilot programs would last for a period of one year
ending on September 30, 2013, but may be extended thereafter.

   In order to further assess the feasibility of both the PPH pilot program
and the PCT-PPH pilot program, the USPTO and the IPOCZ have agreed to
extend the pilots indefinitely.

   Any inquiries concerning this notice may be directed to Bryan Lin,
Office of PCT Legal Administration, at 571-272-3303, or via e-mail
addressed to bryan.lin@uspto.gov.

   Specific questions about the Patent Prosecution Highway should be
directed to the Office of Petitions at 571-272-3282, or via e-mail
addressed to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.

Septemter 11, 2013                                        TERESA STANEK REA
           Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and
           Deputy Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office

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