What is the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)?

The Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) is a program that allows applicants to obtain faster examination of patent applications in certain countries. It was created to foster international cooperation among patent offices and streamline the patent application process. Under the PPH, one patent office, such as the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), can utilize the results of a prior search and examination done by another patent office in order to expedite examination of the patent application. A patent application must meet certain criteria in order to use the PPH. In North Carolina, the USPTO has a partnership with the Chinese State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) and the German Patent and Trademark Office (GPTO), so patent applications that meet the criteria can qualify for the PPH. The patent application must have already been examined by the Chinese office or the German office before it can be eligible for the PPH. The PPH program provides a way for patent applicants to speed up the examination process for their patent applications. This can help to get patent applications approved faster and reduce wait times for applicants in North Carolina and other states.

Related FAQs

How do I file a patent application in the US?
What is infringement?
What is patent licensing?
What is a design patent?
What is the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)?
What are the requirements for a patent to be granted?
What is a patent claim?
What if someone else has a similar invention?
What is patentability?
What is a plant patent?

What is the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)?

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts