Top of Notices Top of Notices   (182)  December 29, 2015 US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE Print This Notice 1421 CNOG  721 

Patent Prosecution Highway Referenced Items (181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198)
(182)   Continuation of Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Programs
          between the United States Patent and Trademark Office
         and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines

   On January 29, 2013, the United States Patent and Trademark Office
(USPTO) commenced two Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot programs with
the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPH). The first
pilot program (PPH pilot program) enabled an applicant whose claims have
been determined allowable or patentable in an application filed in the
IPOPH to have the corresponding application filed in the USPTO advanced out
of turn for examination. See Requirements for the Patent Prosecution
Highway (PPH) Program to Implement PPH 2.0 with the Intellectual Property
Office of the Philippines, 1389 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 52 (April 2, 2013).
The second pilot program, which was based on Patent Cooperation Treaty
(PCT) work products (PCT-PPH pilot program), enabled an applicant who
received a written opinion or an international preliminary examination
report from the United States International Searching Authority (ISA/US) or
United States International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA/US)
indicating that at least one claim in the PCT application has novelty,
inventive step, and industrial applicability to have the corresponding
application filed in the IPOPH advanced out of turn for examination. See
Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between the United States Patent
and Trademark Office and the Intellectual Property Office of the
Philippines based on Patent Cooperation Treaty Work Products, 1384 Off.
Gaz. Pat. Office 50 (April 2, 2013). The USPTO indicated that both pilot
programs would terminate on January 28, 2014, but may be extended
thereafter.

   In order to further assess the feasibility of both the PPH pilot program
and the PCT-PPH pilot program, the USPTO and the IPOPH have agreed to
extend the pilots indefinitely.

   Any inquiries concerning this notice may be directed to Bryan Lin,
Office of PCT Legal Administration, at 571-272-3303, or via e-mail
addressed to bryan.lin@uspto.gov.

   Specific questions about the Patent Prosecution Highway should be
directed to the Office of Petitions at 571-272-3282, or via e-mail
addressed to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.

February 18, 2014                                           MICHELLE K. LEE
           Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and
           Deputy Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office

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