What is the process for making a patent application special under the Patent Prosecution Highway?

What is the process for making a patent application special under the Patent Prosecution Highway?

The Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) is a program that allows for expedited processing of patent applications. According to MPEP 708.01:

A request for participation in a Patent Prosecution Highway program may be granted by the Patents Business Center.

To make an application special under the PPH:

1. The applicant must have a corresponding application with allowable claims in a PPH partner office.
2. The applicant must submit a request to the USPTO for participation in the PPH program.
3. The request must include necessary documents, such as copies of allowed claims and office actions from the partner office.
4. If approved, the U.S. application will be advanced out of turn for examination.

This process allows for faster examination based on work already done by another patent office, potentially speeding up the overall patent granting process.

To learn more:

• Patent Prosecution Highway
• PPH
• special application
• expedited processing