The European Patent Office (EPO) has extended its PPH (Patent Prosecution Highway) pilot programme with IP Australia, thus enabling applicants at both offices to continue obtaining patents more quickly and efficiently.
The PPH pilot programme with IP Australia has been extended for three years until 30 June 2022, and the current conditions and requirements for participation will continue to apply.
The Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) leverages fast-track patent examination procedures already available at the offices to allow applicants to obtain corresponding patents faster and more efficiently. It also permits each patent office to exploit the work previously done by the other patent office.
In addition to this programme at IP Australia, the EPO has operational PPH pilot programmes with the IP5 offices (the grouping of the world’s five largest IP offices, made up of the EPO and the patent offices of China, Japan, Korea, and the US), as well as with the national patent offices of Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore and the Eurasian Patent Office.
Article by Sònia Girona.
