PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway Between USPTO and NBPR
The PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway in Conjunction With the National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland (NBPR)
Under the PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway, an applicant receiving a written opinion or an international preliminary examination report from either the National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland (NBPR) 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 PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway in conjunction with the NBPR started as a pilot program from 24 January 2011 to 23 January 2013. The program has now been fully implemented on a permanent basis from 24 January 2013.
PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway Requests to USPTO
Fillable Form SB/20PCT-FI (PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway Request Form) [PDF]
PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway Requests to NBPR
How to make a request at the NBPR (published by the NBPR)
