PPH programme expands: a new road in the Middle East

A two-year patent prosecution highway (PPH) pilot project has been announced between the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) and the Israel Patent Office. The pilot programme is scheduled to end on 31st October 2014.

The Canada-Israel PPH pilot programme is expected to allow volunteer applicants in both countries to obtain corresponding patents faster. This initiative may be of great interest to those for whom both jurisdictions are of interest. It is worth noting that a Canada-Israel free trade agreement has been in force since 1st January 1997.

CIPO will process requests for advanced prosecution under the PPH free of charge. On requesting the PPH programme, the applicant will have to submit, among other things, a claim correspondence table between the Canadian and Israeli claims.

This new PPH pilot project will be an addition to the existing Canadian PPH programmes. Canada has an established PPH programme with the US Patent and Trademark Office. Pilot PPH programmes are also being conducted with:

• The Patent Cooperation Treaty (pilot ending 31st January 2013).
• The Danish Patent and Trademark Office (pilot ending 30th September 2013).
• The Japan Patent Office (pilot ending 30th September 2013).
• The Korean Intellectual Property Office (pilot ending 30th September 2013).
• The UK Intellectual Property Office (pilot ending 30th January 2014).
• The German Patent and Trademark Office (pilot ending 30th September 2014).
• The National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland (pilot ending 30th September 2014).
• The Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (pilot ending 30th September 2014).

Applicants should take advantage of such programmes to obtain their patents faster if speed is an issue.