The UK IP Office (UK-IPO) and the US Patent and Trade Mark Office (USPTO) have launched a pilot scheme which it is hoped will speed up the processing of patent applications in the UK and the United States.
Launched on 4th September 2007, the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) will allow patent applicants who have received an examination report by either the UK-IPO or the USPTO to request accelerated examination of a corresponding patent application filed in the other country.
The aim of the 12 month pilot project is to test the demand from applicants for this additional option for speeding up examination of patent applications, and to investigate potential improvements in the quality and efficiency of the examination process at the two patent offices.
The pilot scheme with the USPTO follows an earlier PPH agreement with the Japan Patent Office established earlier this year, which similarly allows applicants to request accelerated examination of a Japanese patent application by filing examination reports received on a corresponding UK patent application, and vice versa.
Lord Triesman, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Intellectual Property and Quality said:
"The Patent Prosecution Highway with the US Patent and Trademark Office builds on a similar pilot scheme with the Japan Patent Office which is already showing great promise."
"The Patent Prosecution Highway agreement between the UK-IPO and the USPTO will enhance the operational efficiency of both agencies and improve patent quality. The agreement will help to efficiently and effectively safeguard inventors' intellectual property and help to stimulate innovation on a national and international scale. The PPH will further enhance the UK-IPO's reputation for delivering a high quality, cost effective service and is a valuable addition to the services offered at the UK-IPO"
"The PPH helps both offices in their goal of stimulating and rewarding invention and innovation and is a further step towards a global patent prosecution highway network."
Ian Fletcher, Chief Executive of the UK Intellectual Property Office said:
"Patent users worldwide want offices to cooperate more effectively. Our collective goal is to reduce duplication of work, speed up processing, and improve quality," said Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO Jon Dudas. "This pilot project with the UK builds on work with the JPO, and contributes to a more rational international patent system." | 
