Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot programs extended

Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) is a fast track linking patent examination duties of different countries or regions, allowing patent examination authorities to speed up patent examination by work sharing. 

Since the initiation of the first PPH program in November 2011, the CNIPA has built PPH ties with patent examination authorities of 32 countries or regions.

The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) have jointly decided to extend their Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program for another three years from January 23, 2024 to January 22, 2027. 

The program has been extended also with the Danish Patent and Trademark Office (DKPTO) and with the National Institute of Industrial Property of Chile (INAPI), for both Countries for another five years from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2028.

The established Procedures to file a request to the DPMA/DKPTO/INAPI for Patent Prosecution Highway ("PPH") Pilot Program with CNIPA remains controlling the pertinent requirements and procedures governing applicants' PPH requests at the two offices.

The extension of the PPH pilot program will continuously advance communication and cooperation in IP, serve both Chinese and others innovators by accelerating the patent examination process and deepen the offices' cooperation in patent examination.