Top of Notices   (177)  December 28, 2010

US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

Print This Notice 1361 CNOG  791

Patent Prosecution Highway, New Route, "Triway"

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(177)			     Continuation of the
		   Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program
		      between the USPTO and IP Australia

   On April 14, 2008, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
commenced a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program (PPH) which enabled an
applicant whose claims have been determined allowable/patentable in an
application filed in IP Australia 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 IP Australia," 1329 Off. Gaz. Pat.
Office 165 (April 22, 2008). The USPTO indicated that the pilot program
would last for a period of one year ending on April 14, 2009, 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 IP Australia 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.

April 10, 2009			    			       JOHN J. DOLL
    				     Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for
			   Intellectual Property and Acting Director of the
				  United States Patent and Trademark Office

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