PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway Between USPTO and SPTO (Pilot)
The PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway in Conjunction With the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (SPTO)
Under the PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway, an applicant receiving a written opinion or an international preliminary examination report from either the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (SPTO) or the USPTO that at least one claim in a PCT application has novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability may request that the other office fast track the examination of corresponding claims in corresponding applications. The PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway will leverage fast-track patent examination procedures already available in both offices to allow applicants in both countries to obtain corresponding patents faster and more efficiently.
As of May 25, 2010, the USPTO has eliminated the fee for the petition to make special under the PPH programs.
The USPTO and SPTO have agreed to extend the pilot for a period of two years ending 30 September 2013 in order to collect more information before any formal decision on the program is made.
View the USPTO Press Release announcing the pilot program.
View the SPTO Press Release for the pilot program in English or Spanish.
PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway Requests to USPTO
Fillable Form SB/20PCT-ES (PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway Request Form) [PDF]
PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway Requests to SPTO
How to make a request (published by SPTO - English)
How to make a request (published by SPTO - Spanish)
