Top of Notices   (194)  December 31, 2013

US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

Print This Notice 1397 CNOG  745

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)

(194)                      Continuation of Enhanced
             Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between the
      United States Patent and Trademark Office and Participating Offices

   Since July 15, 2011, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
and seven other offices (i.e., IP Australia (IPAU), Canada (CIPO), Finland
(NBPR), Japan (JPO), Russia (ROSPATENT), Spain (SPTO) and United Kingdom
(UKIPO)) have participated in an enhanced PPH pilot program called
"MOTTAINAI." Under MOTTAINAI, participation in the PPH may be requested on
the basis of search and examination results from the office of earlier
examination (OEE), regardless of whether the OEE was the office of first
filing (OFF).

   In order to adequately assess the feasibility of the MOTTAINAI pilot
program, the USPTO, IPAU, the CIPO, the NBPR, the JPO, ROSPATENT, the SPTO,
and the UKIPO have decided to extend the pilot program indefinitely. The
eight participating offices will continue to evaluate the results of the
pilot program to determine whether and how the program should be fully
implemented.

   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.

October 9, 2012                                             DAVID J. KAPPOS
                  Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and
                  Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office

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