Rospatent and EPO Launch Joint Patent Prosecution Highway

Russia’s Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) recently launched a joint Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program with the European Patent Office (EPO).

Under the pilot, which will run for an initial term of three years, Rospatent and the EPO will benefit from the search and examination work already done by the other office. For example, an applicant that received a favorable ruling from one patent office on at least one claim in the application may request a fast-track examination at the other patent office. The applicants benefit from patentability determination in both jurisdictions and reduced costs of prosecution.

The EPO and Rospatent also co-operate closely on quality issues, technical harmonization and patent data sharing, aiming to improve access to patent information for both patent offices and patent system users.

Prepared by: Djurdja Krivokapić

For more information, please contact russia@petosevic.com.

Source: EPO