IP5 PPH pilot programme extended for three years

Five intellectual property offices, including the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), have extended their patent prosecution highway (PPH) pilot programme for three years.

The five offices, known as IP5, consist of the USPTO, the European Patent Office, China’s State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO), the Japan Patent Office and the Korean Intellectual Property Office.

The PPH pilot programme was launched on January 6, 2014 and was due to expire on January 5, 2017.

However, on January 13, SIPO released a statement, confirming that the PPH pilot programme would be extended for three years from January 6.

The aim of the PPH pilot programme is to use fast-track patent examination procedures already available at the offices to allow applicants to obtain corresponding patents faster and more efficiently.

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