According to the joint statement of intent on the Patent Prosecution Highway(PPH) Pilot Program between China’s State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) and the U.K. Intellectual Property Office(UKIPO), the Memorandums of Understanding on the PPH Pilot Program between SIPO and Icelandic Patent Office(IPO), and the Memorandums of Understanding on the PPH Pilot Program between SIPO and the Swedish Patent and Registration office(PRV), the SIPO-UKIPO, SIPO-IPO and SIPO-PRV PPH pilot programs started on July 1, 2014 and will last until June 30, 2016.
The start of PPH Pilot Programs between China and the other three IP offices will highly improve the efficiency and quality of patent examination, and benefit applicants for obtaining patents more speedily.