China-German PPH Pilot Program Starts on 23 January 2012
Further to the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot programs with Japan Patent Office (JPO) and United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) of China further runs a PPH pilot program with the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA).
Said PPH pilot program commenced on 23 January 2012 for a duration of two years until 22 January 2014. The program covers only regular patent applications with the exclusion of PCT applications.
Under the pilot scheme, an accelerated examination is available to applicants at the office of second filing, in this case, either SIPO or DPMA, if the patent application was previously filed at the other of the partner offices and at least one claim had been determined to be allowable by that office.
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