Introduction to the Patent Prosecution Highway
JAPAN PATENT OFFICE
Contents
1.Background
2.Current Status of PPH
3.Merits of PPH
4.Requirement for requesting PPH
5.Recent developments (Global PPH, etc.)
6.PPH Portal Site
7.Reference materials
1
Contents
1.Background
2.Current Status of PPH
3.Merits of PPH
4.Requirement for requesting PPH
5.Recent developments (Global PPH etc.)
6.PPH Portal Site
7.Reference materials
2
Increase in patent applications filed in the Whole World
The number of patent applications in the world is increasing.
In particular, the number of applications filed in multiple offices is significantly increasing.
Changes in Patent Appl. Filed in the Whole World
The number of Appl. by nationality of applicant
(Unit: 10 thou.)
2.35 mil.
83.4
1.48 mil.
56.1
151.3
92.4
Source: WIPO Industrial Property Statistics
The number of applications filed in many offices is increasing.
Growing Demand for Work Sharing
The number of applications filed in multiple offices is increasing.
The cost and workload is increasing
・For applicants:
- Cost of obtaining patents increases.
- Delay in acquiring patents.
・For the IP offices:
- More duplicate work is being conducted at each patent office
Growing Demand for Worksharing
4
Contents
1.Background
2.Current Status of PPH
3.Merits of PPH
4.Requirement for requesting PPH
5.Recent developments (Global PPH, etc.)
6.PPH Portal Site
7.Reference materials
5
Outline of the Patent Prosecution Highway
PPH is a framework in which, when applicants request, they can have their applications that have
been determined to be patentable in the Office of Earlier Examination (OEE) undergo accelerated
examination in the Office of Later Examination (OLE) based on simplified procedures.
OEE (Office of Earlier Examination)
Application
Grant
A
Claims correspondence
OLE (Office of Later Examination)
OEE Examination History
Work Sharing
OLE workload can be
reduced
Benefits office
Corresponding
Application
A’
PPH
Request
Accelerated
Examination
Benefits
applicants
6
The Scheme of Patent Prosecution Highway
Regular-type PPH
PCT-PPH
Paris Route
Allowable
OEE (Office of Earlier Examination)
Search /
Examination
Application
Regular-type
PPH
Accelerated
Exam.
Request
for PPH
Application
OLE (Office of Later Examination)
Claim Correspondence
PCT International
Phase
PCT work
products
PCT
Application
National/Regional Phase
Allowable
A
Regular-type
PPH
Examination
WO or IPER
Positive
Opinion
Request
for PPH
B
Accelerated
Exam.
Claim Correspondence
PCT-PPH
C
Request
for PPH
Accelerated
Exam.
Claim Correspondence
Expanding PPH Network
DIP
NRIP
(Thai)
（Nicaragua）
JPO
(JAPAN)
USPTO
(USA)
KIPO
(Korea)
DGIPR
(Indonesia)
EAPO
(Eurasia)
As of 6th of January, 2014
UKIPO
(UK)
CIPO
(Canada)
2006~
DPMA
(Germany)
PPO
(Poland)
IPO-CZ
(Czech)
IP Australia
(Australia)
32 offices participate in the PPH as
of January 6, 2014
(Japan started
the PPH with 28 offices.)
The accumulated total number of requests for
PPH applications filed worldwide is about
50,000.
As of December 2013
SIC
(Colombia)
IPOPHL
(Philippines)
IPO
(Iceland)
SIPO
(China)
DKPTO
(Denmark
EPO
(Europe)
IPOS
(Singapore)
PRH
(Finland)
NIPO
(Norway)
TIPO
(Taiwan)
ROSPATENT
(Russia)
NPI
(Nordic)
ILPO
(Israel)
PRV
(Sweden)
INPI
(Portugal)
SPTO
IMPI
(Spain)
(Mexico)
HIPO
(Hungary)
APO
(Austria)
8
PPH Development in Latin America
Colombia
Mexico
US
2012.9~
US
2011.3~
ES
2013.11 ~
JP
2011.7~
ES
2011.10~
KR
2012.7~
CN
2013.3~
SG
2014.4~
Nicaragua
US
2013.9~
9
Number of applications for the PPH (received by JPO)
as of December 2013
Cumulative Number of Requests for PPH
(as of the end of Dec. 2013)
Office of Later Examination
JP
Office of Earlier Examination
JP
US
KR
GB
CA
DE
AU
DK
EP
SG
FI
RU
MX
PT
SE
IL
TW
NO
CN
IS
8614
2736
38
230
1183
-
3
1543
24
2
128
AT HU ES
0
0
0
50
0
0
2
701
2
2717
0
PH CO CZ PL EA ID Total
0
-
-
0
0
3
17976
1304
120
3989
217
546
10
1025
20
3
103
0
2
1
150
0
-
25
562
21
1522
0
0
1
0
-
-
-
12519
6
10
12
-
0
-
1
0
11
0
0
2
0
-
-
-
-
-
92
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1836
31
11
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
722
0
-
0
-
-
1
-
-
-
0
-
-
-
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
294
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
35
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
405
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
298
-
-
-
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
-
-
11
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
208
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
989
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
9
2
0
0
0
-
-
-
0
-
-
4
-
-
-
0
-
-
-
73
-
-
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
37
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
8
0
0
-
-
0
-
-
-
-
0
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
12
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
14
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
12
-
-
-
-
0
-
-
197
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
0
-
-
-
-
0
-
-
-
0
-
-
2
-
0
3
35625
US
2898
KR
288
1414
GB
117
508
CA
18
269
6
0
DE
144
143
28
5
50
AU
-
298
-
-
-
-
DK
25
152
18
-
2
-
-
EP
256
733
-
-
-
-
-
-
SG
3
6
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
FI
11
41
7
-
8
-
-
-
-
-
RU
6
25
2
-
-
-
-
0
-
-
0
AT
3
1
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
HU
2
6
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
-
0
ES
0
2
0
-
0
-
-
-
-
-
0
0
-
-
MX
0
6
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
PT
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
0
-
SE
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
IL
0
10
-
-
2
-
-
0
-
-
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
TW
3
11
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
NO
1
11
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
CN
23
151
9
-
3
6
-
0
-
0
0
5
0
-
-
0
0
-
-
-
-
IS
0
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
PH
0
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
CO
-
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
CZ
-
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
PL
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
EA
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
ID
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3799
12403
4165
169
4325
1429
546
13
2568
45
6
249
0
2
3
200
0
0
27
1263
23
4386
0
0
1
0
0
0
Total
55
-
-
-
0
Cumulative Number of Requests for PCT-PPH
(as of the end of Dec. 2013)
ISA/IPEA
Office of Filing
JP
US
1690
KR
302
CA
-
AU DK EP
0 605
FI
0
RU
7
AT
0
ES
1
JP
2486
US
KR
33
56
CA
420
43
20
22
0
72
0
14
0
1
-
0
117
-
-
0
-
-
-
0
-
-
-
2927
42
-
178
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
AU
-
281
-
-
32
-
-
-
-
-
DK
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
EP
748
2488
-
-
-
-
-
-
FI
2
53
-
-
-
-
-
RU
1
52
-
-
-
0
AT
-
31
0
-
-
ES
2
10
-
-
PT
-
-
-
SE
23
126
IL
1
15
8
67
48
3408
562
8764
XN
CN
Total
PH CZ
27
-
PL
0
EA ID Total
0 22 5916
IL
0
NO
0
CN
760
IS
0
0
2
0
38
0
8
0
-
-
-
673
-
-
-
-
411
-
-
-
-
-
-
3511
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
220
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
313
-
-
-
-
-
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3236
-
1
0
0
-
-
-
0
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
57
-
0
-
-
0
-
-
-
-
-
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
59
-
-
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
31
-
-
-
0
1
-
-
4
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
17
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
150
-
-
-
0
-
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
17
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
75
198
54
0
0
677
0
0
2
25
0
0
2
0
15
0
6
3
0
1216
0
35
0
0
0
0
22
628
14903
16
478
MX PT SE
11
0
5
Number of PPH Requests (received by JPO)
(Except JPO-JPO PCT-PPH)
Bilateral PPH
OEE
Number of PPH
Requests
OEE
US
2898
ES
0
KR
288
MX
GB
117
CA
PCT-PPH
Number of PPH
Requests
OEE
Number of PPH
Requests
0
US
33
PT
0
EP
748
18
IL
0
KR
56
DE
144
TW
3
FI
2
DK
25
NO
1
ES
2
EP
256
CN
23
SE
23
SG
3
IS
0
XN
8
FI
11
PH
0
CN
48
RU
6
PL
1
RU
1
AT
3
EA
0
IL
1
HU
2
ID
0
JPO-JPO PCT-PPH: 2486
13
Number of PPH Requests by IPC Sections
(Except JPO-JPO PCT-PPH)
14
Contents
1.Background
2.Current Status of PPH
3.Merit of PPH
4.Requirement for requesting PPH
5.Recent issues (Global PPH etc.)
6.PPH Portal Site
7.Reference materials
15
Merit for the Applicants
Merit for the Applicants:
High speed, Low cost, High predictability
16
Merit for the Applicants: High Speed
Accelerated Examination
35.1
Down!
Down!
5
5
JP
US
KR
GB
CA
DE
AU
Average Pendency from PPH
Request
to First Office Action (months)
2.0
(13)
4.4
(18.0)
2.52
(13.2)
0.8
1.7
(15.8)
5.3
Average pendency from PPH
request to Final Decision (months)
6.7
(22)
14.0
(29.0)
4.89
(19.1)
9.4
5.7
(35.1)
Period: Jul-Dec 2013
EP
RU
MX
TW
0.9
3.5
(7.8)
0.9
1.91
(30.1)
1.5
4.5
(14)
1.5
4.19
(39.8)
( ) : All applications including PPH and non-PPH
17
Merit for the Applicants: Low Cost
Decrease in the number of office actions
Decrease in the number of
office actions reduces
applicant cost (e.g. attorney
and translation fee).
DOWN!
Average Number of Office Actions
Period: Jul-Dec 2013
JP
US
1.01
(1.1)
(2.4)
KR
GB
CA
0.67
1.6
0.7
(1.6)
DE
AU
0.3
EP
RU
MX
TW
1.5
(1.9)
0.1
1
0.58
(0.99)
( ) : All applications including PPH and non-PPH
18
Merit for the Applicants: High Predictability
Increase in Grant Rate
•PPH applications tend to
be granted by the OLE
because they were
already judged to be
patentable by the OEE.
Grant Rate (%)
Period: Jul-Dec 2013
JP
US
KR
GB
CA
75
(71)
87.9
(53)
91.3
(67.5)
94
88
(65)
DE
AU
100
EP
RU
MX
TW
98
(44)
96.4
94
(61)
( ) : All applications including PPH and non-PPH
19
Merit for the Patent Offices
Merit for the Patent Offices: Work Sharing effect
Duplication Work..
Search
Finished
Search
Utilization of
Results!
Search
prior arts, office actions
Search
an application
Refer the results
before Search
Search
an application
20
Merit for the Patent Offices
Work Sharing Effect: Easing Examination Burden
1.
Decrease in the number of office actions
2.
Utilization of OEE search/examination result
3.
Optimized claim scope
Optimized claim scope
Total Amount of Work in
Examination
Utilization of the OEE examination results
Down
Decrease in the number of office actions
Normal
PPH
21
Merit for the Patent Offices: Easing Examination Burden
Decrease in the number of office actions
PPH applications tend to be
efficiently judged in the OLE
because OLE examiners can
refer examination history of
the OEE.
DOWN!
JP
Average Number of Office Actions
1.01
(1.1)
US
(2.4)
KR
GB
CA
0.67
1.6
0.7
(1.6)
DE
AU
0.3
EP
RU
MX
TW
1.5
(1.9)
0.11
0.58
(0.99)
Optimized claim scope
Total Amount of Work in
Examination
Utilization of the OEE examination results
Down
Decrease in the number of office actions
( ) : All applications including PPH and non-PPH
Period: Jul-Dec 2013
Normal
PPH
22
Merit for the Patent Offices: Easing Examination Burden
Utilization of OEE search/examination results
OEE application is
patentable/allowable
OLE
OLE examiner can refer;
OEE examiner
Applicant must submit;
Copies of all OEE Office Actions
Copies of all claims determined
to be patentable/allowable
Copies of all cited documents
Claim correspondence table
OEE Office Actions
Copies of all claims determined to
be patentable/allowable by the OEE
Copies of all cited documents
Claim correspondence table
OLE application’s claim scope must sufficiently
correspond to OEE application’s claim scope
23
Merit for the Patent Offices: Easing Examination Burden
Optimized claim scope
OEE
OLE
(Office of Earlier Examination)
(Office of Later Examination)
Scope of search is
greatly reduced.
Claim Scope
Optimized
Claim
Scope
Patentable in the OEE
Claim Correspondence
Not Patentable in the OEE
In many cases, the number of claims
is decreasing.
To request for the PPH, the OLE application’s claim scope must be sufficiently corresponded to
OEE application’s claim scope which was determined to be patentable/allowable by the OEE
24
Merit for Offices and Applicants
Merit for offices and applicants:
Quality Improvement
25
Merit for Offices and Applicants: Quality Improvement
In PPH scheme, the examination quality of the OLE is guaranteed
for at least the OEE level.
In addition, the OLE examiners can learn the OEE
examination/search practices via submitted OAs and cited prior arts.
+ “Claim correspondence” makes understanding easy.
Search /
Examination
OLE
OEE examiner
Claim correspondence
OEE search/examination history
Oh, this practice is good.
OLE examiner
26
Contents
1.Background
2.Current Status of PPH
3.Merit of PPH
4.Requirement for requesting PPH
5.Recent issues (Global PPH etc.)
6.PPH Portal Site
7.Reference materials
27
Requirements for PPH request
1-3. OEE application has one or more
claims that are determined as
allowable.
OEE(Office of Earlier Examination)
Search/
Examination
Application
Request for
PPH
Application
JPO
1-1. The JPO has not begun
examination of the
application.
Allowable
Accelerated
Exam.
1-2. Relationship between the OEE and
the JPO application.
e.g. The JPO application is an application which
validly claims priority under Paris Convention to the
OEE application.
2. Submission of required
documents.
1-4. All claims of the OEE
application must sufficiently
correspond to the allowable claims
in the JPO
28
Required Documents
Copies of all OEE office
actions and all claims
determined to be
allowable/patentable
Copies of
references
Translations of the
copies described in
the left side
Claim correspondence
table
No need to submit copies
of all OEE office actions and
all claims determined to be
allowable/patentable, if
they are available via the
OEE dossier access system.
No need to submit the
copies of references , if they
are patent document.
29
Requirements for PCT-PPH request
PCT Route (PCT-PPH)
International Phase
PCT Work Products
PCT
Application
National/Regional Phase
A
Examination
Allowable
WO or IPER
Request for
PPH
B
1-3. PCT application has
one or more claims that
are indicated as
allowable.
Positive
Opinion
C
1-2. Relationship between
the application and the
corresponding PCT
application
1-1. The JPO has not
begun examination of the
application.
Request for
PPH
2. Submission of required
documents.
Accelerated
Exam.
Accelerated
Exam.
1-4. All claims of the application must
sufficiently correspond to the allowable claims
in the PCT application
Requirements, required documents are very similar to the normal PPH.
30
Required Documents
Copies of latest
international work
product and
translations of them
Copies of
references
Copies of all claims
determined to be
patentable/allowable
and translations of
them
Claim correspondence
table
No need to submit these
documents, if they are
available via “PATENTSCOPE”
(registered trademark)
No need to submit the copies
of references , if they are
patent document.
31
Requirements, required documents and fee (to the JPO)
Requirements
List of Required
Documents
PPH petition fee
1-1. The examination has not begun in the JPO.
1-2. The JPO application is in particular relationship with the OEE
application.
Ex.) The JPO application is an application which validly claims priority
under Paris Convention to the OEE application.
1-3. The OEE application has at least one claim that was determined by
the OEE to be allowable.
1-4. All claims in the JPO application sufficiently correspond or are
amended to sufficiently correspond to the allowable/patentable claims in
the OEE applications.
2-1. Copies of all claims*1 and their translations
2-2. Copies of the OEE office actions*1 and their translations
2-3. Copies of all cited documents*2
2-4. Claims Correspondence Table
*1 Applicants do not have to submit these documents, if the JPO can obtain these
documents via the OEE’s dossier access system.
*2 Applicants do not have to submit these documents, if the documents are patent
document.
Free
For more details, please see PPH guideline which is available at JPO website.
32
Comparison with USPTO
To USPTO
To JPO
Copy of allowable
claims
A copy of the allowable claims from OEE
application along with English translation
thereof and a statement that the English
translation is accurate.
Either Japanese or English is acceptable as
translation language. Machine translations will be
admissible.
*Submission of the copy of claims can be omitted
(in case claims are provided via the OEE’s DAS).
Copy of OEE office
action
All OEE office actions.
All OEE office actions. Either Japanese or English
is acceptable as translation language. Machine
translation will be admissible.
*Submission of the copy of claims can be omitted
(in case claims are provided via the OEE’s DAS).
Copies of documents
cited by the OEE
examiner
IDS(Information disclosure statement) listing
the documents cited in the OEE office action
along with copies of all documents except U.S.
patents and U.S. patent applications.
Submission of the patent documents can be omitted.
Number of
opportunity given to
the applicant to
correct certain
specified defect
Only one time
No limitation on the number of opportunity
33
Contents
1.Background
2.Current Status of PPH
3.Merit of PPH
4.Requirement for requesting PPH
5.Recent issues (Global PPH etc.)
6.PPH Portal Site
7.Reference materials
34
Global PPH
The launch of a “Global PPH” pilot program within the framework of multiple countries: this program was created by making
use of common factors found in the PPH. It commenced on January 6, 2014.
Previously, different types of PPH systems were used between two offices, depending on their bilateral agreements. The
types include the regular type PPH, the PPH MOTTAINAI, and the PCT-PPH.
Having various types of systems made it rather difficult for applicants to understand how to use them. Besides, the systems
were not user friendly. On the other hand, this Global PPH pilot program enables participating offices to effectively use all
types of PPH systems, enhancing user-friendliness.
Seventeen countries/regions are participating in this pilot program. (Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Iceland,
Israel, Japan, Korea, Nordic Patent Institute, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, UK, and USA)
Before launching Global PPH
Global PPH
(From January 6, 2014)
Types of PPHs available for
all participating offices:
Regular PPH,
PPH MOTTAINAI, and
PCT-PPH
35
PPH MOTTAINAI Pilot Program ~Easing of PPH requirements~
 To make the PPH program more user-friendly and available for patent applicants, the PPH MOTTAINAI Program launched on
15th of July, 2011.
 Under this pilot program, PPH request is eligible, whether or not the office which provides the examination results is the
Office of First Filing (OFF).
 JPO (Japan), USPTO(USA), UK-IPO(UK), CIPO (Canada), IP Australia (Australia), PRH (Finland), ROSPATENT (Russia), SPTO
(Spain), EPO, DPMA (Germany), INPI (Portugal), IPOPHL( Philippines), TIPO(Taiwan), KIPO (Korea), SIPO (China), DKPTO
(Denmark), HIPO(Hungary), PRV (Sweden), ILPO(Israel), NIPO(Norway) and IPO(Iceland) have adopted this pilot program as
of the end of January 2014.
The newly eligible examples under the PPH MOTTAINAI Pilot Program
Case １
Office of First Filing (OFF)
Office of First Filing (OFF)
Office of Later Examination (OLE)
Office A
application
Request for
PPH
Priority
claim
Office B
application
Patentable
Office C
application
Case 2
Priority
claim
Office of Earlier Examination (OEE)
Office A
application
OK
Office of Earlier Examination (OEE)
Patentable
Priority
claim
Office B
application
OK
Request for
PPH
Office of Later Examination (OLE)
※
・・・the participating Office for this Pilot Program
36
IP5 PPH
•IP5 PPH pilot program commenced on January 6, 2014 for a period of 3
years.
•Under the program, applicants whose patent claims have been found
to be patentable by one office may ask for accelerated processing of
their corresponding applications pending before the other IP5 offices.
JPO
(JAPAN)
USPTO
(USA)
SIPO
(China)
EPO
(Europe)
KIPO
(Korea)
37
Contents
1.Background
2.Current Status of PPH
3.Merit of PPH
4.Requirement for requesting PPH
5.Recent issues (Global PPH etc.)
6.PPH Portal Site
7.Reference materials
38
PPH Portal Website
http://www.jpo.go.jp/ppph-portal/
JPO administrates the PPH Portal Website, which provides the latest
information regarding PPH, the links of different countries and regions.
Latest PPH Information in the world
PPH Procedure Information
- Links to the individual offices
39
PPH Portal Website
http://www.jpo.go.jp/ppph-portal/
PPH Portal Website also provide the PPH statistical data.
Provision of the PPH statistical data, such as
Grant Rate and Average Pendency from FA to
Final Decision.
Provision of the number of
PPH requests by Office
Please access URL: http://www.jpo.go.jp/ppph-portal/
40
Gracias
For more information, please visit our website.
http://www.jpo.go.jp/torikumi_e/t_torikumi_e/patent_highway_e.htm
Contents
1.Background
2.Current Status of PPH
3.Merit of PPH
4.Requirement for requesting PPH
5.Recent issues (Global PPH etc.)
6.PPH Portal Site
7.Reference materials
42
Example Request Form used in the JPO (1)
43
Example Request Form used in the JPO (2)
44
Example Request Form used in the JPO (3)
45
FAQ
(1) What are differences between PPH and other approaches?
(2) Does PPH prioritize only ‘foreign’ applicants?
(3) Does PPH interfere independency of examination?
46
(1) What are differences between PPH and other approaches?
All these approaches are important work sharing approaches.
Users can select one of them or PCT-PPH according to their needs.
PCT
PPH
Dossier Cooperation
(OPD, AIPN, ePEC, CASE…)
JPO
Yes
Yes
Yes
Type
User driven
User driven
Offices cooperation
Referring other office results
Yes
Yes
Yes
Claim correspondence obligation
No
Yes
No
Accelerated examination
No
Yes
No
PPH has higher work sharing effects than PCT and Dossier cooperation
because PPH has claims correspondence obligation.
47
(1) What are differences between PPH and other approaches?
In users’ view, PCT and PPH bring each merits.
PCT facilitates applications to many countries.
an application
PPH enables accelerated examination on
both PCT and Paris route.
PCT route
Acceleration of Work sharing
Dossier
Cooperation
PCT
an application
PPH
Paris route
48
(2) Does PPH prioritize only ‘foreign’ applicants?
PPH scheme is a reciprocity scheme.
Therefore, both peoples can acquire PPH merits.
Country A
Country B
Accelerated examination
PPH request
Accelerated examination
PPH request
49
(3) Does PPH interfere independency of examination?
PPH is the agreement concerning only examination order.
PPH is NOT concerning substantive examination.
For this reason, PPH pilot programs are spreading all over the
world including China and Mexico, Colombia etc. and all PPH
pilot programs do not have expired.
I found A.
OLE
OEE examiner
Claim correspondence
OEE search/examination
Results
Oh, A is already found.
Let’s search ONLY B!
OLE examiner
Office Actions of OEE
Purposes of PPH are work sharing and accelerated examination.
50