Patent Prosecution Highway Between USPTO and DPMA (Pilot)

The Patent Prosecution Highway in Conjunction With the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA)

Under the Patent Prosecution Highway, an applicant receiving a ruling from either the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) or the USPTO that at least one claim in an application is patentable may request that the other office fast track the examination of corresponding claims in corresponding applications. The 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 USPTO and DPMA have decided to extend the pilot program for an additional two years to April 26, 2013.

View Press Release announcing the pilot program.

View the DPMA Announcement on the pilot program.

Patent Prosecution Highway Requests to USPTO

Fillable Form SB/20 DE (Patent Prosecution Highway Request Form) [PDF]

Extension of the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (signed 21 April 2011)

Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (signed 14 April 2009)

Patent Prosecution Highway Requests to DPMA

How to make a request (published by the DPMA, includes links to request form)

 

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