Patent Prosecution Highway Between USPTO and NBPR (Pilot)
The Patent Prosecution Highway in Conjunction With the National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland (NBPR)
Under the Patent Prosecution Highway, an applicant receiving a ruling from either the National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland (NBPR) 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 NBPR 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 NBPR announcement about the revised requirements.
Patent Prosecution Highway Requests to USPTO
Fillable Form SB/20 FI (Patent Prosecution Highway Request Form) [PDF]
Patent Prosecution Highway Requests to NBPR
How to make a request at the NBPR (published by the NBPR)
