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.

The trial period has been extended for six months, with the six month extended trial period set to expire 03 January 2008.  Please note that the trial period may be extended for up to one year or terminated earlier depending on volume of activity and other factors. Both offices will provide notice of any adjustment in the pilot program.

>> View Press Release #06-35 (24MAY2006) announcing the pilot program.

Patent Prosecution Highway Requests to USPTO

• Printable Form SB/20 ( Patent Prosecution Highway Request Form) [PDF]
• Extension of the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between the USPTO and the JPO (signed 27 June 2007) [PDF]
• Revised Requirements for Requesting Participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program in the USPTO (signed 17 May 2007) [PDF]
• Revised Requirements for Requesting Participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program in the USPTO (signed 03 January 2007) [PDF]
• Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Japan Patent Office (signed 22May2006) [PDF]

Patent Prosecution Highway Requests to JPO

• Procedures to File a PPH Request with JPO (English version) [PDF]
• Procedures to File a PPH Request with JPO (Japanese version) [PDF]
• Example forms for“Explanation of circumstances concerning accelerated examination” (Japanese) [PDF]
• Expansion of eligible applications for PPH pilot program to PCT applications (English)
• Revised procedures to File a PPH Request with JPO (English version) [PDF]

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