SIPO-KIPO, SIPO-IMPI and SIPO-APO PPH Pilot Programs Extend

The Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot programs between the State Intellectual Property Office of the P. R.China (SIPO) and the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), between SIPO and the Mexican Institute of Intellectual Property (IMPI), and between SIPO and the Austria Patent Office (APO), have all be extended as from March 1, 2014. Requirements and procedures to file a PPH request between SIPO and the aforementioned offices remain unchanged.

The SIPO-KIPO PPH pilot program will be extended for two years from March 1, 2014 until February 29, 2016, according to the co-decision made by SIPO and KIPO.

The SIPO-IMPI PPH pilot program will be extended infinitely from March 1, 2014, according to the co-decision made by SIPO and IMPI.

The SIPO-APO PPH pilot program will be extended for two years from March 1, 2014 until February 29, 2016, according to the co-decision made by SIPO and APO.

SIPO launched the PPH pilot programs with KIPO on March 1, 2012, and with IMPI and APO respectively on March 1, 2013. All the three PPH pilot programs ended on February 28, 2014.