Top of Notices   (167)  December 28, 2010

US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

Print This Notice 1361 CNOG  771

Patent Prosecution Highway, New Route, "Triway"

Referenced Items (158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192)

(167)			     Continuation of the
		   Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program
			 between the USPTO and Finland


   On July 6, 2009, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
commenced a Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program which enabled an
applicant whose claims have been determined allowable/patentable in an
application filed in the National Board of Patents and Registration of
Finland (NBPR) to have the corresponding application filed in the USPTO
advanced out of turn for examination. See notice entitled "Patent
Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between the United States Patent and
Trademark Office and the National Board of Patents and Registration of
Finland," 1344 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 165 (July 21, 2009). The USPTO
indicated that the pilot program would last for a period of one year ending
on July 6, 2010, but may be extended for an additional time period
thereafter.

   In order to adequately assess the feasibility of the PPH pilot program,
the USPTO and NBPR have agreed to extend the pilot in its current state in
order to collect more information before any formal decision on the program
is made.

   Please continue to direct inquiries on the PPH pilot program to Magdalen
Greenlief at 571-272-8800 or via e-mail addressed to
Magdalen.greenlief@uspto.gov.

July 1, 2010			                            DAVID J. KAPPOS
				            Under Secretary of Commerce for
				  Intellectual Property and Director of the
 				  United States Patent and Trademark Office

				 [1356 OG 257]