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USPTO and UKIPO building a highway

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) announced that they are now accepting applications in a pilot project designed to fast track patent examination between the two countries.

"Our collective goal is to reduce duplication of work, speed up processing, and improve quality" said Jon Dudas, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO.

Under the Patent Prosecution Highway, an applicant receiving a ruling from either the UKIPO or the USPTO that at least one claim in an application is patentable may request that the other office fast track the examination of corresponding claims in corresponding applications.

Both countries also have a similar program running with the Japan Patent Office (JPO) of which the Chief Executive of the UK Intellectual Property Office, Ian Fletcher says, "is already showing great promise".

The trial program was created to establish the interest of applicants and determine if the program improves quality and efficiency whilst also reducing the workload at the USPTO and the UKIPO. The trial period is set to expire on the 4 of September 2008, but may be extended or terminated early depending on levels of activity and other factors.

Further information from UKIPO

Further information from USPTO

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