Patent Prosecution Highway Between USPTO and SIPO (Pilot)
The Patent Prosecution Highway in Conjunction With the State Intellectual Property Office of the P.R.C. (SIPO)
Under the Patent Prosecution Highway, an applicant receiving a ruling from either the State Intellectual Property Office of the P.R.C. (SIPO) or the USPTO that at least one claim in an application is patentable may request that the other office fast track the examination of corresponding claims in corresponding applications. The 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 trial period started on 01 December 2011 and is set to expire 30 November 2012, but may be extended for up to one year or terminated early depending on volume of activity and other factors. Both offices will provide notice of any adjustment in the pilot program.
View the USPTO Press Release announcing the pilot program.
Patent Prosecution Highway Requests to USPTO
Fillable Form SB/20CN (Patent Prosecution Highway Request Form) [PDF]
Patent Prosecution Highway Requests to SIPO
How to make a request at the SIPO (published by the SIPO in Chinese)
