Top of Notices   (186)  December 31, 2013

US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

Print This Notice 1397 CNOG  737

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)

(186)     Continuation of Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Programs
        between the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the
		  State Intellectual Property Office of the
                          People's Republic of China

   On December 1, 2011, the United States Patent and Trademark Office
(USPTO) commenced two Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot programs with
the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China
(SIPO). The first pilot program (PPH pilot program) enabled an applicant
whose claims have been determined allowable or patentable in an application
filed in the SIPO 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 State
Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China," 1374 Off.
Gaz. Pat. Office 118 (January 10, 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 SIPO or the USPTO 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 be advanced out of
turn for examination. See "Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between
the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the State Intellectual
Property Office of the People's Republic of China based on Patent Cooperation
Treaty Work Products," 1374 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 119 (January 10, 2012).
The USPTO indicated that both pilot programs would last for a period of one
year ending on November 30, 2012, 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 SIPO have agreed to extend
the pilots for one year ending on November 30, 2013.

   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.

March 5, 2013                                             TERESA STANEK REA
           Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and
           Acting Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office

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