[A2k] UK and US team-tag to speed patent prosecution process

[Michelle Childs]

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[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]

<snip>Triesman said the aim of patent offices is to create a wide
ranging network of such agreements. "The PPH helps both offices in
their goal of stimulating and rewarding invention and innovation and
is a further step towards a global patent prosecution highway
network," he said.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/06/us_uk_patent_examination_accord/
UK and US team-tag to speed patent prosecution process
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Published Thursday 6th September 2007 18:43 GMT


The US and UK patent offices have agreed to share and recognise each
other's patent examination reports under a new deal. The offices hope
the deal could save significant application time for would-be patent
holders.

The 12-month pilot deal creates what the offices are calling a Patent
Prosecution Highway. It means that someone who has had a patent
examination report produced by one of the two offices can receive
accelerated treatment from the other office.

The agreement between the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO)
and the US Patents and Trademarks Office (USPTO) mirrors a deal
signed earlier this year between the UK and Japan. An agreement had
already existed between the US and Japan.

"The Patent Prosecution Highway agreement between the UK-IPO and the
USPTO will enhance the operational efficiency of both agencies and
improve patent quality," said Lord Triesman, parliamentary under
secretary of state for intellectual property and quality. "The
agreement will help to efficiently and effectively safeguard
inventors' intellectual property and help to stimulate innovation on
a national and international scale."

Triesman said the aim of patent offices is to create a wide ranging
network of such agreements. "The PPH helps both offices in their goal
of stimulating and rewarding invention and innovation and is a
further step towards a global patent prosecution highway network," he
said.

"Our collective goal is to reduce duplication of work, speed up
processing, and improve quality," said Jon Dudas, director of the
USPTO. "This pilot project with the UK builds on work with the
Japanese Patent Office, and contributes to a more rational
international patent system."

To qualify for the faster processing, an applicant would have to
submit the search and examination reports produced by the partner
patent office.

The review of intellectual property carried out by former Financial
Times editor Andrew Gowers late last year recommended that the UK-IPO
engage in work-sharing partnerships such as those with the US and Japan.

Copyright =C2=A9 2007, OUT-LAW.com

OUT-LAW.COM is part of international law firm Pinsent Masons.

Michelle Childs
Head of European Affairs
Knowledge Ecology International
michelle.childs@cptech.org