Improvements to the PPH

KIPO will expand efforts to further improve the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) program jointly with the USPTO and the JPO.
KIPO will conduct an improvement initiative for the PPH program** from August 1, 2023 in cooperation with the USPTO and the JPO, setting a 3-month pendency to each action during examination of a PPH application. This initiative will enable PPH applicants requesting to KIPO, the USPTO and the JPO more easily to predict the timing of PPH examination and to get rapid examination of PPH applications.
* Patent Prosecution Highway: International cooperation program enabling applicants to request accelerated examination of a patent application pending at a second office(known as the office of later examination or OLE) and having been found allowable/patentable by a first office (known as the office of earlier examination or OEE)
** The USPTO and the JPO launched this initiative in 2022 to increase the predictability of the timing of PPH examination by having set a 3-month pendency to each action during examination of a PPH application.

<Targets set by KIPO>

Target
Average period from completion of PPH request to first office action Within three (3) months
Average period from applicant's response to subsequent office action Within three (3) months


Please visit the USPTO's and the JPO's home pages to see the targets set by the USPTO and the JPO, respectively.

Objective and Outline of the Patent Prosecution Highway

The basic concept of the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) is as follows: where an office of first filing (OFF) has assessed the patentability of a patent application, an office of second filing (OSF) offers the applicant accelerated examination for the corresponding application, provided that certain conditions are met. Those conditions include sufficient correspondence in the claims of the two applications and the search and examination results of an OFF being made available to an OSF.

Under the PPH program, the examination results of an OFF are used to expedite the application process in an OSF, thereby reducing the workload and improving patent quality. If deemed patentable by an OFF, the corresponding application is filed in advance for accelerated examination in an OSF.

OEE(Office of Earlier Examination)

Requirements and Documents to be Submitted for Participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway
Requirements
  • 1. An application (including a PCT national application) in an OSF which validly claims priority from an application in an OFF
  • 2. An application in an OFF with at least one claim deemed to be patentable/allowable
  • 3. All claims in an application filed in an OSF must sufficiently correspond to or be amended to sufficiently correspond to one or more of patentable/allowable claims from an application filed in an OFF
Documents to be submitted
  • 1. Copies and translations of claims which are deemed patentable in an OFF
  • 2. Copies and translations of all office actions issued by an OFF
  • 3. Copies of references cited by an OFF's examiner
  • 4. A claims correspondence table
  • * Please refer to guidelines below for the process of submitting the documents and satisfying the requirements as mentioned above.
Request Form

Request Form : English Download   Korean Download

ip5 flag IP5 PPH

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Global flag Global PPH

  • The Global PPH commenced on 6 January, 2014. The offices involved in the Global PPH (GPPH) pilot are IP Australia (IP Australia), Austrian Patent Office (APO), Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO), Danish Patent and Trademark Office (DKPTO), Estonian Patent Office (EPA), Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH), German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA), Hungarian Intellectual Property Office (HIPO), Icelandic Patent Office (IPO), Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ), Israel Patent Office (ILPO), Japan Patent Office (JPO), Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), Nordic Patent Institute (NPI), Norwegian Industrial Property Office (NIPO), National Institute for the Defense of Competition and the Protection of Intellectual Property of Peru (INDECOPI), National Institute of Industrial Property of Chile (INAPI), Patent Office of the Republic of Poland (PPO), Portuguese Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), Russian Federal Service for Intellectual Property (ROSPATENT), Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (SPTO), Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC), Swedish Patent and Registration Office (PRV), United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO), United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and Visegrad Patent Institute (VPI).
    • Framework Provision for the Global PPH : English Download
  • Patent Prosecution Highway Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway program :
      English Download   Korean Download

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Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the DPMA

  • KIPO and the DPMA agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in March 2010 to start a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program on July 1, 2010. Details of procedures in each office are found in the documents below:
    • Joint Announcement of the Continuation of the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between KIPO and the DPMA :
      English Download  Korean Download
  • Patent Prosecution Highway Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program :
      English Download  Korean Download
  • Patent Prosecution Highway Request to the DPMA

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Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and IMPI

  • KIPO and IMPI has agreed to indefinitely carry out the pilot PPH program, including the PCT-PPH, from July 1, 2023.
  • KIPO and IMPI extend the pilot program in its current status, of which duration is three years from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2023.
  • KIPO and IMPI agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in March 2012 to start a PPH pilot program on July 1, 2012. Details of requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below:
  • PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
      English Download  Korean Download
  • PPH Request to IMPI
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to IMPI for participation in the PPH program can be found at the IMPI website below :
      https://www.gob.mx/impi/en

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Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the IPOPHL

  • KIPO and the IPOPHL extend the pilot program in its current status, of which duration is two years starting from May 1, 2017. The duration will be automatically extended for equal periods, unless either office notifies the other in writing of its wish to terminate this agreement.
    • Joint Announcement of the Continuation of the PPH : English Download
  • KIPO and IMPI agreed at the Commissioner's Meeting held in April 2014 to start a PPH pilot program. The commencing date is July 1, 2015. Details of requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below:
  • PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
      English Download  Korean Download
  • PPH Request to IPOPHL

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Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and TIPO

  • KIPO and TIPO agreed to continue the PPH program as having the same conditions with the current agreement for an indefinite time period (June 23, 2020)
  • KIPO and TIPO agreed to start a PPH pilot program. The commencing date is July 1, 2015. Details of requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below:
  • PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
      English Download  Korean Download
  • PPH Request to TIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to TIPO for participation in the PPH program :
      English Download

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Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and SIC

  • KIPO and SIC agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in October 2015 to start a PPH pilot program on February 1, 2016 for an indefinite time period, unless either office notifies the other in writing of its wish to terminate this agreement. Details of requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below:
  • PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
      English Download Korean Download

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Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the EAPO

  • KIPO and the EAPO agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in September 2018 to launch a PPH and PCT-PPH pilot program on January 1, 2019 for three years (automatically extended under the same conditions with the current agreement unless there are justifiable grounds). Details of requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below:
  • PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to the EAPO for participation in the PPH/PCT-PPH program :
      English Download    Korean Download
  • PPH/PCT-PPH Request to the EAPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to the EAPO for participation in the PPH/PCT-PPH program :
      English Download

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Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the IP Vietnam

  • KIPO and the IP Vietnam agreed to continue the 3rd PPH pilot program under the same conditions with the 2nd pilot program, with 2 year duration from June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2025.
  • KIPO and the IP Vietnam agreed to continue the PPH pilot program as having the same conditions with the current agreement. The duration of the extended program will last two years from June 1, 2021 to May 31, 2023.
  • KIPO and the IP Vietnam agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in May 2018 to launch a PPH pilot program on June 1, 2019 for two years. Details of requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below:
  • PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
      English Download    Korean Download
  • PPH Request to the IP Vietnam
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to the IP Vietnam for participation in the PPH program :
      English Download

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Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and SAIP (automatically extended under the same conditions with the current agreement unless there are justifiable grounds).

  • KIPO and SAIP agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in January 2018 to launch a PPH pilot program on July 1, 2019 for three years. Details of requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below:
  • PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
      English Download    Korean Download
  • PPH Request to SAIP
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to SAIP for participation in the PPH program :
      English Download

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Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and INPI (Brazil)

  • KIPO and INPI agreed to launch a PPH pilot program on April 1, 2020 for two years and to resume the program on July 8, 2022 for five years. Details of requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below:
  • PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
      English Download    Korean Download
  • PPH Request to INPI
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to INPI for participation in the PPH program :
      English Download

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Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and MyIPO

  • KIPO and MyIPO agreed to continue the PPH program as having the same conditions with the current agreement for an indefinite time period (December 1, 2023)
  • KIPO and MyIPO agreed to launch a PPH pilot program on December 1, 2020 for three years.
    Details of requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below:
  • PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
      English Download    Korean Download
  • PPH Request to MyIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to MyIPO for participation in the PPH program :
      English Download

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Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and INPI (France)

  • KIPO and INPI agreed to launch a PPH pilot program on September 1, 2022 for three years.
  • Details of requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below:
  • PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
      English Download    Korean Download

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Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and DGIP

  • KIPO and DGIP agreed to launch a PPH pilot program on December 8, 2023 for three years.
  • Details of requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below:
  • PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
      English Download    Korean Download
  • PPH Request to DGIP
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to DGIP for participation in the PPH program :
      English Download   
    • For more details on the procedure, request form, etc., please visit the DGIP's website below :
    • DGIP's PPH website :https://www.dgip.go.id/
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Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the JPO

  • KIPO and the JPO agreed to start a Patent Prosecution Highway on April 1, 2007, according to an agreement endorsed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in November 2005. Details of requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below:
  • KIPO and the JPO agreed to include a PCT application without priority claim in eligible applications for the KIPO-JPO PPH. This agreement came into effect on July 1, 2009.
  • PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
      Japanese Download    Korean Download
  • PPH Request to the JPO

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Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the USPTO

  • KIPO and the USPTO agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in September 2007 to launch a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program in January, 2008. The Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program commenced on January 28, 2008, for one year and ended on January 28, 2009.
  • KIPO and the USPTO agreed to the full implementation of the PPH between KIPO and the USPTO from January 29, 2009, under the same conditions as the pilot program.
  • Joint Announcement on the Full Implementation of the Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the USPTO :
  • PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
      English Download    Korean Download
  • PPH Request to the USPTO

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PCT-PPH between KIPO and the USPTO

  • KIPO and the USPTO agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in June 2011 to launch a PCT-PPH pilot program in July, 2011. The PCT-PPH pilot program commenced on July 1, 2011, for 11 months and ended on May 31, 2012.
  • KIPO and the USPTO agreed to the full implementation of the PCT-PPH between KIPO and the USPTO from June 1, 2012, under the same conditions as the pilot program.
  • Joint Announcement on the Full Implementation of the PCT-PPH between KIPO and the USPTO :
  • PCT-PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PCT-PPH program :
      English Download    Korean Download
  • PCT-PPH Request to the USPTO

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Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the DKPTO

  • KIPO and the DKPTO agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in September 2008 to launch a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program on March 1, 2009 for 1 year. After the one-year pilot period, KIPO and the DKPTO agreed to extend the PPH pilot program under the same conditions as the current program.
    • Joint Announcement of the Continuation of the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between KIPO and the DKPTO :
      English Download Korean Download
  • Patent Prosecution Highway Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
      English Download    Korean Download
  • PCT-PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PCT-PPH program :
      English Download    Korean Download
  • Patent Prosecution Highway Request to the DKPTO

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Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the UKIPO

  • KIPO and the UKIPO agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in June 2009 to launch a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program on October 1, 2009. Details of requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below:
    • Joint Announcement of the Continuation of the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between KIPO and the UKIPO :
      English Download Korean Download
  • PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
      English Download Korean Download
  • PPH Request to the UKIPO

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Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and CIPO

  • KIPO and CIPO agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in September 2009 to launch a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program on October 1, 2009. Details of requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below:
    • Joint Announcement of the Continuation of the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between KIPO and CIPO :
      English Download Korean Download
  • PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH pilot program :
      English Download Korean Download
  • PPH Request to CIPO

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Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and ROSPATENT

  • KIPO and ROSPATENT agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held on June 23, 2009 to launch a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program on November 2, 2009. Details of requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below:
    • Joint Announcement of the Continuation of the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between KIPO and ROSPATENT :
      English Download Korean Download
  • PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH pilot program :
      English Download Korean Download
  • PPH Request to ROSPATENT

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Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the NBPR

  • KIPO and the NBPR agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in September 2009 to launch a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program on January 4, 2010. Details of requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below:
    • Joint Announcement of the Continuation of the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between KIPO and the NBPR :
      English Download Korean Download
  • PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH pilot program :
      English Download Korean Download
  • PPH Request to the NBPR

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PPH and PCT-PPH between KIPO and the SPTO

  • KIPO and the SPTO agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in May 2011 to launch a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program on July 1, 2011. Details of requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below:
    • Joint Announcement of the Continuation of the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between KIPO and the SPTO :
      English Download Korean Download
  • KIPO and the SPTO agreed to launch a PCT-PPH program on January 1, 2014 for 2 years.
  • PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program :
      English Download Korean Download
  • PPH Request to the SPTO

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PPH and PCT-PPH between KIPO and the CNIPA

  • Notice of Extension
    • The PPH pilot program between the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) and the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) will be extended from 1 March 2016 for an indefinite time period: The PPH pilot program between KIPO and the CNIPA commenced on 1 March 2012 and will expire on 29 February 2016. On the basis of the joint decision between KIPO and the CNIPA, the PPH pilot program between KIPO and the CNIPA will be extended from 1 March 2016 for an indefinite time period, unless either office notifies the other in writing of its wish to terminate this agreement. The guidelines concerning the implementation of this pilot program shall continue to apply.
  • PH & PCT-PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH &PCT-PPH programs :
      English Download Korean(PPH) Download
  • PPH & PCT-PPH Request to the CNIPA

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PCT-PPH between KIPO and the JPO

  • KIPO and the JPO agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in June 2012 to launch a PCT-PPH pilot program on July 1, 2012. Details of requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below:
  • PCT-PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PCT-PPH program :
      English Download Korean Download
  • PCT-PPH Request to the JPO

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Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and HIPO

  • KIPO and HIPO agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in October 2012 to launch a PPH pilot program on January 1, 2013. Details of requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below:
  • PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
      English Download Korean Download
  • PPH Request to HIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to HIPO for participation in the PPH program :
      English Download
  • For more details on the procedure, request form, etc., please visit the HIPO website below :
    https://www.sztnh.gov.hu/en/patent/global-pph

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Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and IPOS

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PPH and PCT-PPH between KIPO and APO

  • KIPO and APO agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in December 2012 to launch a PPH and PCT-PPH pilot program on March 1, 2013. Details of requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below:
  • PPH/PCT-PPH Request to KIPO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH/PCT-PPH program :
      English Download Korean(PPH) Download Korean(PCT-PPH) Download
  • PPH/PCT-PPH Request to APO
    • Requirements and procedures for filing a request to APO for participation in the PPH/PCT-PPH program :
      English Download

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Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the PPO

  • KIPO and the PPO agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held on Oct 5, 2016 to launch a PPH pilot program on January 1, 2017 for three years.
  • Last updated 08 December 2023
  • Patent Legal Administration Division