The European Patent Office (EPO) has commenced a Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) three year pilot programme with the Malaysian and Philippines patent offices, starting 1 July 2017.

Applicants whose claims have been found allowable by the EPO, the Malaysian or Philippines patent offices can now request accelerated processing of their corresponding application at the other office. This development follows hot on the heels of the patent offices of New Zealand and Colombia joining the PPH framework.

It is important to think about who will use the trade mark. If a company will use the trade mark, generally speaking, it is best to file the application in the company’s name unless there is a good reason not to. One good reason not to is if it is intended that all trade marks be held in the name of a holding company that licenses the use of the trade marks to its subsidiaries.

As of 6 July 2017, the New Zealand Patent Office (IPONZ) has joined the Global Patent Prosecution Highway (GPPH) pilot programme.  The GPPH is an arrangement between intellectual property (IP) offices including the US, Japanese, Australian and Korean Patent Offices that allows patent applicants to request expedited examination.