News

The National Institute of Industrial Property of Chile (INAPI) and the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO)have signed an agreement on September 27, 2018 to expedite the prosecution of patent applications through a Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program, wherein the Applicant may request the fast-track examination of its application in Chile or US after being granted by the other.

The agreement came into force as of November 1, 2018 and the trial period for this PPH pilot program will run until October 31, 2021, which will be extended if necessary. The offices may also terminate the PPH program earlier than initially planned if the volume of participation exceeds a manageable level.

Over the last two years, Inapi has signed PPH Pilot Programs with the Patent Offices of Canada, Japan and China and almost all the Patent Offices of the PROSUR and Pacific Alliance, Latin American countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay (where our Company has direct presence through our offices) and also with Ecuador and Paraguay.

We highlight that applying to the PPH program substantially reduces the time to receive a decision on patentability for patent applications in Chile and increases its efficiency.

Further information may be found in the following link.

In case you have any questions or need additional information, please contact us infochile@clarkemodet.cl and cdelrio@clarkemodet.cl We are happy to assist you.