PCT-PPH agreement with USPTO
On July 1, 2011, Nordic Patent Institute and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) started a pilot project for the Patent Prosecution Highway based on Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) work products (PCT-PPH pilot program).
The pilot project means that an applicant, who has chosen Nordic Patent Institute to act as his ISA or IPEA and has received a favourable Written Opinion or International Preliminary Report on Patentability, may request that a corresponding national phase entry or a national application filed at the USPTO receive fast-track examination.
To file a request for participation in the pilot program the applicant shall after filing the USPTO national application file a request form (see link below to USPTO web site), including a claim correspondence table. Additionally, the applicant shall furnish the following documents:
- A copy of the latest international work product (WO/ISA, WO/IPEA, or IPER) in the identified corresponding PCT application(s)
- A copy of all claims which were indicated as having novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability in the identified corresponding PCT application(s).
- English translations of the abovementioned documents (if the documents are not in the English language). A statement that the English translation is accurate.
The pilot project started on July 1, 2011, and is set to expire on June 30, 2012, but may be extended for up to one year or terminated earlier depending on volume of activity and other factors.
You will find more information on how to file a request and to access the request form on the USPTO website
For more information contact Grétar Ingi Grétarsson, Vice-Director of Nordic Patent Institute, +45 4350 8500, gretar.ingi.gretarsson@npi.int.