State Intellectual Property Office of PRC (SIPO) launched Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot programs with Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) on March 1, 2012, and with the Austrian Patent Office on March 1, 2013. Both programs expired on February 29, 2016.
According to the co-decision made by SIPO and KIPO, the Sino-Korean pilot program will be extended indefinitely,however, either party may terminate the pilot program by submitting a written notice to the other party. Requirements and procedures to file a PPH request between SIPO and KIPO remain unchanged.
The Sino-Austrian pilot program will be extended for two years from March 1, 2016 to February 28, 2018, according to the co-decision made by SIPO and the Austrian Patent Office. Requirements and procedures to file a PPH request between SIPO and the Austrian Patent Office remain unchanged.
Source: China IP News
