Cooperation between patent offices: prior art searching of patent applications

The PPHs are a promising mechanism for work sharing, but the operation of PPHs and the results they achieve should be followed to ensure their continued effectiveness and continued compatibility with the PCT. In this connection, an important new development is the new PCT-PPH pilot programme.

Progress is also being made to further streamline application and examination processes among the IP5 offices (USPTO, EPO, JPO, KIPO, and Chinese Intellectual Property Office (SIPO)). In particular, the IP5 offices have undertaken 10 foundation projects to harmonize the global environment for patent searches and examination and to enable work-sharing among the five offices.

Against this background, ICC proposes a strategic objective relating to prior art searching based on a focused, practical business view of the opportunities provided by patent office collaboration. ICC wishes to emphasize that any effort towards realizing improved work sharing should not compromise the quality of patents ultimately granted by national or regional patent offices.

The present proposal is aimed at ensuring a thorough and complete search

of the prior art – an essential, but not sufficient, condition of producing “quality patents.”