PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway Between USPTO and ILPO (Pilot)

The PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway in Conjunction With the Israeli Patent Office (ILPO)

Under the PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway, an applicant receiving a written opinion or an international preliminary examination report from either the Israeli Patent Office (ILPO) or the USPTO that at least one claim in a PCT application has novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability may request that the other office fast track the examination of corresponding claims in corresponding applications.  The PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway will leverage fast-track patent examination procedures already available in both offices to allow applicants in both countries to obtain corresponding patents faster and more efficiently.

As of May 25, 2010, the USPTO has eliminated the fee for the petition to make special under the PPH programs.

The trial period starts on 01 August 2012 and is set to expire 31 July 2013, but may be extended or terminated early depending on volume of activity and other factors.  Notice will be published if the PCT-PPH pilot program will be terminated before July 31, 2013.

PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway Requests to USPTO

Fillable Form SB/20PCT-IL (PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway Request Form) [PDF]

Fillable Form SB/20PCT-US (PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway Request Form for a U.S. application where the USPTO was the ISA or IPEA) [PDF]

Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Israeli Patent Office based on Patent Cooperation Treaty Work Products (signed 16 July 2012)

PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway Requests to ILPO

How to make a request at the ILPO (published by the ILPO in English and Hebrew)