Top of Notices   (207)  December 31, 2013

US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

Print This Notice 1397 CNOG  763

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)

(207)    Continuation of the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program
        between the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the
    Japan Patent Office based on Patent Cooperation Treaty Work Products

   On January 29, 2010, 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 the Japan
Patent Office (JPO). The PCT-PPH pilot program enabled an applicant who has
received a written opinion or an international preliminary examination report
from the JPO 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 titled "Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot
Program between the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Japan
Patent Office based on Patent Cooperation Treaty Work Products," 1351 Off.
Gaz. Pat. Office 209 (February 23, 2010). The USPTO indicated that the PCT-
PPH pilot program would last for a period of two years ending on January 28,
2012, but may be extended for an additional time period thereafter.

   In order to adequately assess the feasibility of the PCT-PPH pilot
program, the USPTO and JPO have agreed to extend the pilot for two years
ending on January 28, 2014, in order to collect more information before any
formal decision on the program is made.

   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.

January 21, 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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