The trial period for the PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) in conjunction with the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (SPTO) starts on 01 October 2010…

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 trial period starts on 01 October 2010 and is set to expire 30 September 2011, but may be extended for additional time or terminated earlier depending on volume of activity and other factors. Both offices will provide notice of any adjustment in the pilot program.

For further information, please view:
http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/index.jsp