The Patent Prosecution Highway in Conjunction With the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (SAIP)
Under this pilot program of the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH), an applicant who receives a positive ruling on a patent claim(s) from either the SAIP or the USPTO may request accelerated prosecution of a corresponding claim(s) in the other office. The PPH allows the applicant to obtain a patentability decision in the office of later examination (OLE) more quickly. Furthermore, the PPH promotes patent application processing efficiency by allowing the examiner in the OLE to reuse the search and examination results from the office of earlier examination, thereby reducing workload and duplication of effort.
As of May 25, 2010, the USPTO has eliminated the fee for the petition to make special under the PPH programs.
The trial period for this PPH pilot program between the USPTO and the SAIP commenced on January 1, 2020, and has been extended to run until December 31, 2025. The trial period may be further extended upon mutual written decision by the offices. Both offices intend to continually evaluate the PPH pilot program to determine whether and how the program should be modified. Either office also may terminate the PPH pilot program early for any reason, including if the volume of participation exceeds a manageable level. Notice will be published if the PPH pilot program will be extended or terminated. Unless the SAIP becomes a Global PPH participating office, any extension or termination of the Global/IP5 PPH program will have no effect on this PPH pilot program.
Memorandum of Understanding
Patent Prosecution Highway Requests to USPTO
Fillable Form SB/20SA (Patent Prosecution Highway Request Form) [PDF]
Continuation of the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (signed 06 January 2023)
Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program Between the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (signed 06 December 2019)