New PPH agreements: EPO-IPOPHL, SIPO-EGYPO, SIPO-INAPI, SIPO-IPO CZ

On July 1, 2017, the agreement on a two-year Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program signed between the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) of the People’s Republic of China and the Egyptian Patent Office (EGYPO) took effect. The other PPH program launched on July 1, 2017 is one between the European Patent Office (EPO) and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).

In the meantime, the SIPO also signed memorandums of understanding in regard of Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program with and the Chilean National Institute of Intellectual Property (INAPI) and the Industrial Property Office of the Czech Republic. The programs will start on January 1, 2018.

Said programs will give applicants the opportunity to expedite examination of their patent applications due to usage of work products issued by Office of Earlier Examination (OEE). This significantly saves costs and reduces time spent on getting a patent granted.

For more information on patenting your invention in any country of your interest, please visit our applicant’s guide. Also, you can always get competitive quotes for IP rights registration via our quotation system.

Author: Lynda Miller