Patent Prosecution Highway Between USPTO and JPO (Permanent)

Under the Patent Prosecution Highway , an applicant receiving a ruling from either the Japan Patent Office (JPO) 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.

Starting on July 15, 2011, for a period of one year ending on July 14, 2012, the USPTO and the JPO have agreed to revise the requirements for requesting participation in the PPH program to improve the PPH program and make it available to a greater number of applicants.

View the USPTO announcement about the revised requirements.

View the JPO announcement about the revised requirements.