ENGLISH
GERMANU.S. and U.K Patent Offices Implement Joint Action Plan on Patent Cooperation
by – Christopher J. Menke
Since 2007, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) have participated in a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program (PPH). The PPH leverages fast-track patent examination in both patent offices to allow applicants in both countries to obtain patents faster and more efficiently.
Recently, the USPTO and UK IPO announced further cooperation regarding patent applications. On April 5, 2011, USPTO Director David Kappos and Intellectual Property Minister Baroness Wilcox unveiled the USPTO-UKIPO action plan designed to allow a patent examiner in one office to reuse work done by an examiner in the other office on a corresponding patent application to the maximum extent possible in order to reduce duplication of work and speed up examination in both patent offices. The joint action plan also develops resource manuals and instructions handbooks for examiners and enhances common understanding of practice in each patent office.
Director David Kappos said, “The joint action plan highlights that while 21st century patent challenges are global in scope, so too are their solutions. Work sharing is a powerful tool that equips examiners to extract value from our skilled colleagues in other patent offices. By reducing redundant workloads and chipping away at the backlog, we can collaborate to unleash millions of jobs lying in wait and breathe life into our economies.”
Baroness Wilcox said, “Patent backlogs make it very hard for our innovators and entrepreneurs to obtain the patent rights so essential for innovative high-tech businesses to grow. This can cost the global economy billions each year. At a time when supporting global economic growth is more important than ever, reducing patent backlogs is critical. This is why I’m delighted to see the co-operation between the USPTO and the IPO to help tackle this important issue.”
For more information on patent protection in the United States and United Kingdom, contact Christopher J. Menke .
Filed under the Intellectual Property Law category.
