UK/US pilot launched to speed up processing patents

A 12 month pilot scheme launched today will speed up processing patent applications in the UK and the US, according to the UK intellectual property office.

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 United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) 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.

The pilot scheme with the USPTO follows an earlier PPH agreement with the Japan Patent Office established earlier this year.

Lord Triesman, parliamentary under secretary of state for intellectual property and quality said: "The Patent Prosecution Highway with the US Patent and Trademark Office builds on a similar pilot scheme with the Japan Patent Office which is already showing great promise.

“The Patent Prosecution Highway...will enhance the operational efficiency of both agencies and improve patent quality. The agreement will help to efficiently and effectively safeguard inventors' intellectual property and help to stimulate innovation on a national and international scale.

Lord Triesman, parliamentary under secretary of state for intellectual property and quality

"The Patent Prosecution Highway agreement between the UK-IPO and the US PTO will enhance the operational efficiency of both agencies and improve patent quality. The agreement will help to efficiently and effectively safeguard inventors' intellectual property and help to stimulate innovation on a national and international scale. The PPH will further enhance the UK-IPO's reputation for delivering a high quality, cost effective service and is a valuable addition to the services offered at the UK-IPO"

"The PPH helps both offices in their goal of stimulating and rewarding invention and innovation and is a further step towards a global patent prosecution highway network."

Ian Fletcher, chief executive of the UK intellectual property office said: "The UK Intellectual Property Office has high standards in efficiency and quality as reflected in our ISO 9001:2000 accreditation. The PPH agreement with the US Patent and Trademark Office will make a contribution to raising these standards further. I am especially pleased that the improved efficiency and quality expected to arise from this PPH agreement is a direct result of the strong relations that exist between the UK Intellectual Property Office and the US Patent and Trademark Office."

"Patent users worldwide want offices to cooperate more effectively. Our collective goal is to reduce duplication of work, speed up processing, and improve quality," said Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO Jon Dudas. "This pilot project with the UK builds on work with the JPO, and contributes to a more rational international patent system."