USPTO and JPO Announce Patent Cooperation Treaty Agreement

        JPO will act as an available ISA and IPEA for certain international applications filed with USPTO that are directed to the field of green technology. 


        The USPTO and the Japan Patent Office have implemented an agreement under which JPO will act as an available International Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority for certain international applications filed with the USPTO as the Receiving Office, under the Patent Cooperation Treaty. The agreement will take effect on July 1, 2015. The agreement is intended to end on June 30, 2018, but may be continued by mutual written consent.