The JPO and the USPTO have been fully implementing a Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) program since 4 January 2008. Both offices have also been participating in the Global PPH since 6 January 2014.
An initiative to improve the predictability of the timing of the examination on the Patent Prosecution Highway (newly includes results for 2022)
In order to improve the predictability of the timing of PPH examination, the JPO and the USPTO have each set target deadlines for issuing office actions for PPH applications and, on 1 January 2022, started to work in line with the targets.
For specific details, please see the joint announcement below. Joint Announcement (in English) (PDF: 83KB) Joint Announcement (Japanese Translation) (PDF: 13KB)
The targets set by the JPO and the results for 2022 against those targets are as follows: Read more