Patent Prosecution Highway: A Fast-track To Patent Examination

At the 2018 Summit held between Japan & India, the two countries have perceived a close collaboration in Intellectual Property Rights in order to realize the true potential of the economic-partnership between the two for a prosperous future. The Countries have agreed to launch a bilateral Patent Prosecution Highway program on a pilot premise in certain recognized fields of innovations in the principal quarter of FY 2019.¹The initial dialogue between the two countries began in 2015. The JPO (Japan Patent Office) has been advancing the collaboration for quick acquisition of IP rights in India through a Memorandum of Co-operation (MOC) signed with the DIPP, MCI in July 2015. In May 2017, the JPO concurred the amended action plan thereby increasing the fields for participation with the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks. Consequently, the First Review Meeting on IP was held where JPO and DIPP embraced a joint articulation with respect to