New fast lane for applications thanks to a new UK and South Korea Patent Highway

A 12 month pilot scheme launched today will speed up processing patent applications in the UK and South Korea.

The Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) allows patent applicants who have received a favourable examination report by either the UK’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) or the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) to request a faster examination of the corresponding patent application filed in the other country.

The scheme will examine the overall benefits that this quicker and quality service will offer businesses.

The pilot scheme with the KIPO follows earlier PPH agreements with the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the US Patent and Trade Mark Office (USPTO).

Ian Fletcher, chief executive of the UK Intellectual Property Office said:

"The Patent Prosecution Highway with the Korean IPO builds on similar schemes with the Japan Patent Office and USPTO established last year which have shown great promise in streamlining the process of granting patents."

"The PPH will help both our offices reduce duplication of work, speed up processing and improve quality. The benefit of PPH to business will be quicker, high quality and cost effective access to patent protection in the UK and Korea."

Mr Koh, Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office has remarked:

"Implementation of the PPH will further strengthen the cooperative relations between KIPO and the UK-IPO in IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) area. The PPH will also help applicants in both Korea and UK acquire patents of high quality in an expedited and convenient manner".

The development of work sharing arrangements between the IPO and other national patent offices is a key recommendation of the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property.

Editor note

• The pilot scheme is the result of the recent signing of the Patent Prosecution Highway pilot agreement by the UK Intellectual Property Office and the Korean Intellectual Property Office.
• The pilot arrangement between the UK and Korea will build upon the initial success of the Patent Prosecution Highway initiatives with the USPTO and the JPO, and will help promote international efforts to develop work sharing arrangements aimed at reducing cross-national duplication of effort.
• Information about the Korean Patent Office can be found at http://www.kipo.go.kr/kpo/user.tdf?a=user.eng.main.BoardApp
• Patent applicants will be required to submit search and examination reports prepared by the other patent office in order qualify for accelerated treatment.