Patent Prosecution Highway Spans Two Continents

On July 2, 2007, the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO) and the Japan Patent Office (JPO) launched a twelve-month pilot program aimed to expedite the processing of patent applications filed in the United Kingdom or Japan. By creating a Patent Prosecution Highway between the two countries, intellectual property authorities in the UK and Japan hope to determine the demand for an expedited patent application process and to assess quality and efficiency advantages. Under this new process, after an applicant in either country receives an examination report from either the UK-IPO or the JPO, the applicant may then request an expedited examination of the corresponding application in the other country.

The highway is a result of an initiative by the two countries to stimulate invention and innovation and facilitate their industries to acquire patents throughout the world. While the pilot program is currently only between the UK and Japan, this Patent Prosecution Highway serves as a step towards a globally streamlined application process.