Hungary and Finland Launch Patent Prosecution Highway Program

In Budapest on October 22, 2009, Hungary and Finland launched the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) program.

The agreement between the Hungarian and Finnish patent offices is significant as this is the first PPH agreement concluded between two European offices. The project will be launched on January 4, 2010 as a one-year trial, after which it can be extended. The aim of the trial program is to establish the applicants’ interest and determine whether the program improves quality and efficiency.

The PPH project, which was initiated in Japan, is based on bilateral agreements. It enables patent offices to exchange information and it speeds up the processing of patent applications. As explained by the Hungarian Patent Office, the parties to this agreement mutually recognize and utilize the work that has been carried out by one of the offices concerning a given application, making it possible for applicants requesting patent protection for the same invention in both countries to obtain patent protection faster.

PPH agreements have already been concluded in a number of countries, including the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Canada, South Korea, Singapore, Denmark, Finland, and Austria, as well as the European Patent Office.

For more information, please contact Aleksandra Noveska at our Macedonia office.