SIPO launches PPH pilots with Chile and the Czech Republic
China’s State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) has launched pilot patent prosecution highway (PPH) schemes with Chile and the Czech Republic.
In conjunction with the National Institute of Industrial Property of Chile and the Czech Republic Industrial Property Office, the PPH schemes came into effect on Monday, January 1, 2018 and will conclude on December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
Under the initiatives, applicants who have been successful in obtaining a patent at one office can request accelerated examination at the other.
The news comes after WIPR reported in November that SIPO had announced a PPH pilot with the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office commencing on February 1, 2018.
At the time, Chinese commissioner Shen Changyu said that the agreement will promote the development of the IP systems in the two countries, and will “provide quality services to users from both countries, elevate IP rights protection and public awareness, and build up a better IP environment”.
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