APO and DPMA agree on Patent Prosecution Highway pilot programme

After Merpel's news relating to "unrest" at the EPO yesterday (see here), some much less controversial, indeed happy patent news.

Happy patent-loving kittens

The German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) and Austrian Patent Office (APO) have agreed on a Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot programme, the DPMA proudly reports on its website: from 1 June 2014 onwards this Austrian-German PPH pilot programme will allow patent applicants to request accelerated examination of their applications.  The PPH pilot programme has an initial term of two years with the option of renewal.

The DPMA’s press release states:

"As immediate neighbours, Germanyand Austria not only have close political relations based on trust but also flourishing economic ties: Germany is Austria's most important economic partner. Many German companies have branches and production sites in Austria," says President Rudloff-Schäffer. "The agreement signed today, which will enable patent applicants to have their applications examined faster by Germany's and Austria's patent offices from 1 June 2014 on, will further promote the economy and innovation in Europe."

More information about the PPH pilot programme should shortly be available via this link (in English).