The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) and the European Patent Office (EPO) have initiated a new Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot programme, effective 1 December 2024.
The new PPH allows patent applicants to accelerate examination of their New Zealand or European patent applications by using allowable claims from a corresponding application in the other jurisdiction.
This programme complements the Global Patent Prosecution Highway (GPPH), which facilitates expedited examination among 28 participating countries, and the recently established PPH programme with China.
While New Zealand already cooperates with several European countries under the GPPH at the national level, the new IPONZ-EPO PPH benefits the majority of applicants who prefer to file a central pan-European patent application with the EPO.
The IPONZ-EPO PPH agreement adds to New Zealand’s network of PPH partners and gives New Zealand patent applicants access to expedited examination in more of the frequently targeted jurisdictions.
Please contact us for more information or if you are interested in accelerating examination of your patent applications.
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