Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) - Fast Track Examination of Applications

We are pleased to announce that on January 6, 2014, the USPTO launched pilots that simplify access to participating PPH offices. The new pilots - formulated under Global PPH and IP5 PPH auspices - replace existing forms and procedures that were unique to each PPH country pairing, with one form and common rules for participating countries.

The Global PPH and IP5 PPH pilot programs will run concurrently and are substantially identical, differing only with regard to their respective participating offices. Because the USPTO has elected to participate in both the Global PPH pilot program and the IP5 PPH pilot program, a PPH request may be filed in the USPTO based on the work product of any office participating in either pilot program. Furthermore, because the respective requirements for the Global PPH and IP5 PPH pilot programs are equivalent, USPTO applicants need not specify which pilot program is being utilized.

Any earlier, positive results (whether PCT or national work product) from any of the IP offices in the list below may potentially form a basis for PPH status at the USPTO under these new simplified pilot programs. All the countries listed can use the single request form found in the link below. The strategic possibilities are countless for IP owners!

Global PPH and IP5 PPH pilot programs: Request form (SB/20GLBL)

Learn more about the Global PPH pilot at the Global PPH section of the PPH portal Web site.

In addition to the Global PPH and IP5 PPH pilot programs, the USPTO has PPH agreements with the following Intellectual Property Offices around the world. These countries are not yet included in the Global PPH so applicants must use the special forms noted in the table. For information, requirements and the request form for each of the PPH programs, click on the links below:

PPH between USPTO and Brazil (Bilateral agreement under Global principles)	Request form (SB/20BR)
PPH between USPTO and Czech Republic	Request form (SB/20CZ)
PPH between USPTO and France (Bilateral agreement under Global principles)	Request form (SB/20FR)
PPH between USPTO and Mexico (Bilateral agreement under Global principles)	Request form (SB/20MX)
PPH between USPTO and Malaysia (Bilateral agreement under Global principles)	Request form (SB/20MY)
PPH between USPTO and Morocco (Bilateral agreement under Global principles)	Request form (SB/20MA)
PPH between USPTO and Nicaragua	Request form (SB/20NI)
PPH between USPTO and Philippines	Request form (SB/20PH)
PPH between USPTO and Romania (Bilateral agreement under global principles)	Request form (SB/20RO)
PPH between USPTO and Saudi Arabia (Bilateral agreement under global principles)	Request form (SB/20SA)
PPH between USPTO and Taiwan Intellectual Property Office	Request form (SB/20TW)

Notice announcing the Global PPH and IP5 PPH pilot programs

Notice announcing the Continuation of the Global PPH pilot program

Notice announcing the Continuation of the IP5 PPH pilot program

The USPTO and JPO Further Improve the PPH

The USPTO and the JPO have a close, productive Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) partnership and share a common vision for further improving the program. Recently, the two Offices developed a strategy to further improve the user experience. The Offices each set targets for issuing office actions for PPH applications. Striving to meet the target as they examine each application makes it easier for users to predict the timing of examination. This improvement took effect on January 1^st, 2022, and will be reviewed on an annual basis. Read more here.

• The USPTO and the Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property (OMPIC) have agreed to a new bilateral PPH pilot program under Global PPH principles, effective April 1, 2023 until terminated.
• The USPTO and the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MYIPO) have agreed to a new bilateral PPH pilot program under Global PPH principles, effective March 2, 2023 to March 1, 2026.
• At the IP5 Working Group 3 meeting in December 2022, the IP5 Offices agreed to a 3-year extension of the IP5 PPH pilot program, effective January 6, 2023 to January 5, 2026. Additionally, the European Patent Office (EPO) has announced that with respect to IP5 PPH requests filed in the EPO, the IP5 PPH pilot program has been extended permanently.
• The USPTO and the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (SAIP) have agreed to extend their bilateral PPH pilot program under Global PPH principles for a three-year period, through December 31, 2025.
• The USPTO and the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) of France have agreed to a new bilateral PPH pilot program under Global PPH principles, effective December 1, 2021 to November 30, 2024.
• The USPTO and the Brazil's National Institute for Industrial Property (INPI) agreed to a new bilateral PPH pilot program under Global PPH principles, effective December 1, 2019 to November 30, 2024.  
• The PPH pilot program between the USPTO and the National Institute of Industrial Property of Argentina (INPI-Argentina) ended on March 2, 2020. PPH requests, filed after March 2, 2020, based on INPI-Argentina work product will not be accepted.