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…
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