Top of Notices   (202)  December 31, 2013

US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

Print This Notice 1397 CNOG  754

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)

(202)    Continuation of the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program
                      between the USPTO and IP Australia
               based on Patent Cooperation Treaty Work Products

   On January 24, 2011, the United States Patent and Trademark Office
(USPTO) commenced a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program based on
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) work products (PCT-PPH pilot program) with
IP Australia (IPAU).  The PCT-PPH pilot program enabled an applicant who
has received a written opinion or an international preliminary examination
report from IPAU 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 notice entitled "Patent
Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between the United States Patent and
Trademark Office and IP Australia based on Patent Cooperation Treaty Work
Products," 1363 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 105 (February 15, 2011).  The USPTO
indicated that the PCT-PPH pilot program would terminate on April 13, 2012,
but could be extended for an additional time period thereafter.

   In order to adequately assess the feasibility of the PCT-PPH pilot
program, the USPTO and IPAU have agreed to collect more information before
any final decision on the program is made. The pilot has been extended
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.

July 16, 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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