Top of Notices Top of Notices   (222)  December 29, 2020 US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE Print This Notice 1481 CNOG  804 

Patent Prosecution Highway Referenced Items (219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235)
(222)     Updated Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program
        Between the United States Patent and Trademark Office and
         the National Institute of Industrial Property of Brazil

   On January 11, 2016, the United States Patent and Trademark Office
(USPTO) commenced a Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program with the
National Institute of Industrial Property of Brazil (INPI). See Patent
Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program Between the United States Patent
and Trademark Office and the Brazilian National Institute of Industrial
Property, 1423 OFF. GAZ. PAT. OFFICE 52 (February 2, 2016). This PPH pilot
program was due to terminate on April 30, 2020.

   With a continued commitment to enhance intellectual property cooperation
between both offices, the USPTO and the INPI have established a new PPH
pilot program, which commenced on December 1, 2019, and will terminate on
November 30, 2024. Accordingly, the previous PPH pilot program between the
USPTO and the INPI terminated on November 30, 2019. Although this new PPH
pilot program supersedes the previous PPH pilot program between the USPTO
and the INPI, the treatment of any PPH request based on INPI work product
filed in the USPTO will remain identical to that of the previous PPH pilot
program. Accordingly, no change to the practice of USPTO applicants will
result from the new PPH pilot program.

   Any inquiries concerning this notice may be directed to Bryan Lin,
International Patent 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.

December 2, 2019                                               ANDREI IANCU
                  Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and
                  Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office

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