Extension of Patent Prosecution Highway

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September 28, 2009

PPH agreement between Finland and Korea

The National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland (NBPR) and the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) have agreed to start a Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program on January 4, 2010.

Under the PPH agreement, if claims of an application have been found to be acceptable by a first intellectual property office, an accelerated examination can be requested at a second intellectual property office. In turn, the initiative will reduce examination workload and improve patent quality.

An applicant whose application filed with either the NBPR or the KIPO contains at least one allowable claim may request that the other office accelerate the examination of corresponding claims in corresponding applications. Full requirements for participation in the PPH program will be available prior to implementation at http://www.prh.fi/en/patentit/pph.html.

Previously this year the Finnish Patent Office has commenced a PPH program with the patent offices of the United States and Japan.

For more information on IP rights and related processes, please contact our patent and trademark attorneys.