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Patent Highway between the UK and Japan opens

UK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE News Release issued by The Government News Network on 2 July 2007

A 12 month pilot scheme launched today will speed up processing patent applications in the UK and Japan.

The Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) will allow patent applicants who have received an examination report by either the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO) or the Japan Patent Office (JPO) to request accelerated examination of a corresponding patent application filed in the other country. The aim of the pilot is to test applicant demand for this additional option for speeding up examination of patent applications and to quantify the quality and efficiency gains to be expected. Ian Fletcher, Chief Executive of the UK Intellectual Property Office said:

"The Patent Prosecution Highway is a valuable additional resource for those seeking to protect their intellectual property in both the UK and Japan. I am especially pleased that the improved efficiency and quality expected to arise from the PPH is a direct result of the strong relations that exist between the UK Intellectual Property Office and the Japan Patent Office."

"The PPH will help the offices in their goal of stimulating and rewarding invention and innovation and is an important step towards a global patent prosecution highway network."

Mr. Nakajima, Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office said:

"The Patent Prosecution Highway is a significant step in the cooperative efforts of Japan and the UK to streamline patent prosecution and support Japanese and UK industries to acquire patents throughout the world."

"This initiative between the two countries is expected to further contribute to the realisation of a global patent prosecution highway network."

The development of work sharing arrangements between the UK-IPO and other national patent offices is a key recommendation of the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property. The UK-IPO is already discussing the possibility of a similar PPH pilot with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to be launched later this year. Editor note

* The pilot scheme is the result of the recent signing of the Patent Prosecution Highway pilot agreement by the UK Intellectual Property Office and the Japan Patent Office.

* The pilot arrangement between the UK and Japan will build upon the initial success of the Patent Prosecution Highway currently being piloted by the USPTO and the JPO, and will help promote international efforts to develop work sharing arrangements aimed at reducing cross-national duplication of effort.

* The Japanese Patent Office can be found at http://www.jpo.go.jp/

* Patent applicants will be required to submit search and examination reports prepared by the other patent office in order qualify for accelerated treatment.