PATENT HIGHWAY

A new 12-month pilot scheme aims to speed up processing patent applications in the UK and the US. The patent prosecution highway (PPH) will allow patent applicants who have received an examination report by either the UK Intellectual Property Office or the US Patent and Trademark Office to request accelerated examination of a corresponding patent application filed in the other country. The pilot is designed 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.