| Patent Prosecution Highway |
Referenced Items (235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246) |
(235) Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program
Between the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the
Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property
I. Background
Since July 2006, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
has partnered with several other offices in Patent Prosecution Highway
(PPH) programs. The PPH program is a work-sharing arrangement between two
or more patent offices that enables an applicant who receives a positive
ruling on patent claims from one participating office to request
accelerated prosecution of corresponding claims in another participating
office. Therefore, the PPH program allows the applicant to obtain an
expedited patentability decision in the second office. The examiner in the
office of later examination is able to utilize and augment the search and
examination results from the office of earlier examination and reduce
duplication of effort, while engaging in a more comprehensive review. The
PPH program promotes the USPTO's goal of providing high-quality and timely
examination of patent applications by facilitating an expedited, thorough
examination.
On January 6, 2014, the USPTO commenced the Global PPH and IP5 PPH
(Global/IP5 PPH) pilot programs, which consolidated and replaced numerous
earlier bilateral PPH programs, thereby streamlining and simplifying the
PPH program process for both applicants and Global/IP5 PPH participating
offices. See Implementation of the Global and IP5 Patent Prosecution
Highway (PPH) Pilot Programs with Participating Offices, 1400 Off. Gaz.
Pat. Office 172 (March 18, 2014).
To further its mission of fostering innovation and growth worldwide, the
USPTO continually seeks new partners to share in the benefits afforded by
the PPH program. Following discussions between the USPTO and the Moroccan
Office of Industrial and Commercial Property (OMPIC), the USPTO will
implement a PPH pilot program with the OMPIC. The OMPIC is not currently a
Global/IP5 PPH participating office and is partnering with the USPTO in the
PPH program on a bilateral basis. However, a PPH program request submitted
in the USPTO based on OMPIC work product will be treated under the
published Global/IP5 PPH standards, as discussed in section III below.
II. Trial Period for the PPH Pilot Program with the OMPIC
The PPH pilot program with the OMPIC will commence on April 1, 2023, and
will continue until terminated by either office. During the trial period,
the offices intend to regularly evaluate the PPH pilot program to determine
whether and how the program should be modified. Either office may terminate
the PPH pilot program for any reason, including if the volume of
participation exceeds a manageable level. A notice will be published if the
PPH pilot program will be terminated. Unless the OMPIC becomes a Global PPH
participating office, any extension or termination of the Global/IP5 PPH
program will have no effect on this PPH pilot program.
III. Participation in the PPH Pilot Program with the OMPIC in the USPTO
Any request to participate in a PPH program in the USPTO, based on OMPIC
work product, is subject to the same requirements and procedures as, and
will receive treatment equivalent to, a request made under the Global/IP5
PPH pilot program, as set forth in the following notice: Implementation of
the Global and IP5 Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Programs with
Participating Offices, 1400 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 172 (March 18, 2014).
This PPH pilot program is subject to any modifications to the requirements
and procedures of the Global/IP5 PPH pilot program. A participation request
form (Form PTO/SB/20MA) is available from the USPTO website at
https://www.uspto.gov/PPH.
Any inquiries concerning this notice may be directed to Bryan Lin,
 Top of Notices (235) December 26, 2023 |
US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE |
1517 CNOG 858 |
International Patent Legal Administration, at 571-272-3303 or
bryan.lin@uspto.gov.
Specific questions about the PPH pilot program should be directed to the
Office of Petitions at 571-272-3282 or PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
March 7, 2023 KATHERINE K. VIDAL
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and
Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office
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