A new t wo-year
pilot scheme, launched today, will provide a boost for growth by
helping businesses speed up the processing of patent applications
in the UK and Germany.
The Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) allows applicants who have
been successful in obtaining a patent from either the UK
Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) or the German Patent and
Trademark Office to request accelerated examination of a
corresponding patent application filed in the other country.
Minister for Intellectual Property Baroness Wilcox said:
“Speeding up the international patent process means British
businesses wishing to expand abroad can do so more quickly and
cheaply. The Patent Prosecution Highway with Germany’s Patent and
Trademark Office adds an important partner to the existing schemes
the UK IPO already has with a number of other countries. The
agreement will provide a more efficient and affordable system for
British and German businesses.”
The UK-Germany PPH pilot will start on 1 March 2012 and will run
for an initial period of one year, ending on 1 March 2013.
Notes to editors
1. The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is within the
Department for Business, Innovation, and Skills (BIS) and is
responsible for the national framework of Intellectual Property
rights, comprising patents, designs, trade marks and copyright.
2. Its role is to help manage an IP system that encourages
innovation and creativity, balances the needs of consumers and
users, promotes strong and competitive markets and is the
foundation of the knowledge-based economy.
3. It operates in a national and an international environment and
its work is governed by national and international law, including
various international treaties relating to Intellectual Property
(IP) to which the United Kingdom is a party.
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Veena Mapara
Phone: 020 7215 5614
veena.mapara@bis.gsi.gov.uk