PCT Newsletter

January 2026 | No. 01/2026

PCT Patent Prosecution Highway (PCT-PPH) Pilots: IP5 PPH Pilot Program Extended to 2029

According to a joint decision made by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), the European Patent Office (EPO), the Japan Patent Office (JPO), the Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP) of the Republic of Korea, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the IP5 Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program will be extended for another three years, from 6 January 2026 to 5 January 2029. The program accepts PCT international work products, including written opinions of the ISA (WO-ISA) and international preliminary examination reports (IPER) as a basis for applicants to request accelerated processing of their patent applications.

For further information, refer to:

https://english.cnipa.gov.cn/art/2025/12/31/art_1340_203419.html

https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/og-ip5extension-jan2026.pdf

PPH is a fast track linking patent examination duties of different countries or regions, allowing patent examination authorities to speed up patent examination. The IP5 Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program started from 1 January 2014. Details can be found in PCT Newsletter 10/2013. Further information about IP5 PPH program can be found at:

https://www.fiveipoffices.org/activities/ws/ip5pph

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