Top of Notices Top of Notices   (186)  December 29, 2015 US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE Print This Notice 1421 CNOG  725 

Patent Prosecution Highway Referenced Items (181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198)
(186)  Continuation of the Global Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)
                 Pilot Program with Participating Offices

   On January 6, 2014, the United States Patent and Trademark Office
(USPTO) commenced the Global Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program
with several other offices. The Global PPH pilot program enables an
applicant whose claims have been determined allowable or patentable in an
application filed in one Global PPH participating office to have the
corresponding application filed in another Global PPH participating office
advanced out of turn for examination. See Implementation of the Global and
IP5 Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Programs with Participating
Offices, 1400 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 172 (March 18, 2014). The notice
announcing the Global PPH pilot program indicated that the Global PPH pilot
program would terminate on January 5, 2015, but may be extended thereafter.

   In order to further assess the Global PPH pilot program, the Global PPH
participating offices have agreed to extend the pilot indefinitely.

   Any inquiries concerning this notice may be directed to Bryan Lin,
International Patent Legal Administration, at 571-272-3303, or via email
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 email addressed
to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.

December 5, 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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