Top of Notices Top of Notices   (208)  December 31, 2013 US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE Print This Notice 1397 CNOG  764 

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) 
(208)    Continuation of the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program
        between the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the
   European 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
European Patent Office (EPO). The PCT-PPH pilot program enabled an applicant
who has received a written opinion or an international preliminary
examination report from the EPO 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 European Patent Office based on Patent Cooperation
Treaty Work Products," 1351 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 208 (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 EPO 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 24, 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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