Top of Notices   (231)  December 31, 2013

US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

Print This Notice 1397 CNOG  787

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)

(231)    Continuation of the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program
                      between the USPTO and IP Australia

   On April 14, 2008, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
commenced a Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program which enabled an
applicant whose claims have been determined allowable/patentable in an
application filed in IP Australia to have the corresponding application
filed in the USPTO 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," 1329 Off. Gaz. Pat.
Office 165 (April 22, 2008). The USPTO indicated that the pilot program
would last for a period of one year ending on April 14, 2009, but may be
extended for an additional time period thereafter.

   On April 10, 2009, the USPTO indicated that the pilot program would be
extended in its current state. See notice entitled "Continuation of the
Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between the USPTO and IP
Australia," 1342 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 99 (May 12, 2009).

   The USPTO and IP Australia have agreed to extend the pilot until April
13, 2012, in order to collect more information before any formal decision
on the program is made.

   Please continue to direct inquiries on the PPH pilot program to Magdalen
Greenlief at 571-272-8140 or via e-mail addressed to
Magdalen.greenlief@uspto.gov.

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

                                 [1363 OG 106]