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View ICR - OIRA Conclusion

OMB Control No: 0651-0058	ICR Reference No: 201208-0651-006
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201110-0651-001
Agency/Subagency: DOC/PTO	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Program
Type of Information Collection: No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR: No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 08/28/2012
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 08/10/2012
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	01/31/2015	01/31/2015	01/31/2015
Responses	4,100	0	3,900
Time Burden (Hours)	8,200	0	7,800
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

Abstract: The Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program was originally established between the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Japan Patent Office (JPO) on July 3, 2006. The PPH program allows applicants whose claims are determined to be patentable in the office of first filing to have the corresponding application that is filed in the office of second filing be advanced out of turn for examination. At the same time, the PPH program allows the office of second filing to exploit the search and examination results of the office of first filing, which increases examination efficiency and improves patent quality. The PCT-PPH pilot program is an expansion to the PPH program based on the framework of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). Information collected for the PCT is approved under OMB control number 0651-0021. The forms in this collection allow participants to file a request in a corresponding U.S. application and petition to make the U.S. application special under the PPH or PCT-PPH program. The forms collect similar data; however, there is a unique form for each participant. The USPTO is proposing to add two forms to this collection, one for a new participant in the PCT-PPH pilot program and one for a new participant in the PPH pilot program, and to revise an existing form for a participant in the PPH program that is moving from pilot status to full implementation. The USPTO had discussions with the Israeli Patent Office (ILPO) to launch a PPH pilot program based on PCT work products (PCT-PPH pilot program) similar to other PCT-PPH pilot programs. The USPTO and the ILPO agreed that consistency between PCT-PPH pilot programs should be maintained to the extent possible, to avoid creating burdens on applicants and offices, and to ensure maximum work-sharing potential. The USPTO and the ILPO agreed that a PCT-PPH pilot program between the two offices will commence on August 1, 2012, for a period of one year ending on July 31, 2013. Since July 1, 2011, the USPTO has conducted a PPH pilot program with the ILPO. The USPTO and the ILPO agreed to fully implement the PPH program on a permanent basis starting on July 1, 2012. The USPTO is also launching a PPH pilot program with the Colombian Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC) on September 1, 2012.

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to Agency Discretion
Annual Number of Responses	4,100	3,900	200
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	8,200	7,800	400
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: Program changes to responses and burden hours are due to the addition of two forms to this collection for new participants in the PCT-PPH and PPH pilot programs: PCT-PPH Israel and PPH Colombia.