News from the Japan Patent Office (JPO)

Patent Prosecution Highway using PCT international work products
The JPO has commenced the PPH programs using the PCT international work products (PCT-PPH) on pilot basis since January 2010 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the European Patent Office (EPO). From July 2010, the JPO commence the PCT-PPH pilot program with National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland (NBPR).
Under these programs, an accelerated examination can be requested using a written opinion established by certain International Searching Authorities (WO/IPA) or an international preliminary examination report (IPER) established by certain International Preliminary Examining Authorities.
The applicant can request participation in the PCT-PPH where any of the following Offices is the chosen International Searching Authority or International Preliminary Examining Authority:
The Japan Patent Office (JPO), the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the European Patent Office (EPO) and the National Board of Patent and Registration of Finland (NBPR)
【Major requirements for the participation in PCT-PPH】
(1)At least one claim is determined/indicated to be allowable/patentable*1 in WO/ISA, WO/IPEA*2 or IPER
(2)All claims on file for examination under the PCT-PPH sufficiently correspond to those claims determined/indicated to be allowable/patentable in WO/ISA, WO/IPEA*2 or IPER
(3)Examination of the application which the PCT-PPH is requested for has not been begun
*1 Claim(s) are indicated to have novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability (explanation by applicant is necessary where any observation is described in Box VIII).
*2 Not eligible when filing with the EPO.

PPH pilot program between the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the European Patent Office (EPO)
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the European Patent Office (EPO) commences the PPH pilot program on January 2010.
Following an agreement at the Trilateral Conference held in Kyoto on November 2009, it is possible to request for participating in this pilot program on the basis of PCT international work products.

(At the meeting in November 2009: Mr. Hosono, Commissioner of the JPO and Ms. Brimelow, Commissioner of the EPO)



PPH pilot program between the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the Federal Service for Intellectual Property, Patents & Trademarks of Russia (ROSPATENT)
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the Federal Service for Intellectual Property, Patents & Trademarks of Russia (ROSPATENT)　commenced the PPH pilot program on May 2009 in accordance with the joint statement of intent at the ROSPATENT/JPO Heads Meeting held in Moscow on April 2009.

(At the meeting in April 2009: Dr. Simonov, Director General of the ROSPATENT and Mr. Suzuki, Commissioner of the JPO)