Patent Law Practice Center

US and Brazil enter into Patent Prosecution Highway agreement

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and Brazil’s National Institute for Industrial Property (INPI) have agreed to establish a Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program. The United States Patent Office likes PPH applications because they take significantly less time to prosecute, on average, than non-PPH applications. This is as a result of being able to re-use information, such as previous search and examination results, between and among the USPTO and partner patent offices.

PPH agreements are cooperative initiatives that streamline the patent examination process by promoting expeditious, less costly, and more effective patent protection. The USPTO and INPI plan to launch the two-year pilot program on January 11, 2016.

“This agreement strengthens the economic relationship between the United States and Brazil and further highlights the commitment both countries have made to provide a high quality and efficient intellectual property system that will make it easier for innovators of all sizes to do business in a global economy,” said Michelle Lee, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO.

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