Korean Intellectual Property Office KIPO's Activities > International Affairs

Bilateral PPH Pilot Programs completed or suspended due to the implementation of IP5 PPH and Global PPH

(JPO)Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and JPO (April 1, 2007)
(USPTO)Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the USPTO (January 28, 2008)
(USPTO)PCT-PPH between KIPO and the USPTO (July 1, 2011)
(DKPTO)Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the DKPTO (March 1, 2009)
(UKIPO)Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the UKIPO (October 1, 2009)
(CIPO)Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and CIPO (October 1, 2009)
(ROSPATENT)Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and ROSPATENT (November 2, 2009)
(NBPR)Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the NBPR (January 4, 2010)
(SPTO)Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the SPTO (July 1, 2011)
(SIPO)Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and SIPO (March 1, 2012)
(JPO)PCT-PPH between KIPO and JPO (July 1, 2012)
(HIPO)Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and HIPO (January 1, 2013)
(IPOS)Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and IPOS (January 1, 2013)
(APO)PPH and PCT-PPH between KIPO and APO (March 1, 2013)
(PPO)Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the PPO(Poland) (Jan 1, 2017)
(SIC)Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and SIC(Colombia) (February 1, 2016)

Objective and Outline of the Patent Prosecution Highway

The basic concept of the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) is as follows: where the office of first filing (OFF) has assessed the patentability of a patent application, the office of second filing (OSF) offers the applicant an accelerated examination for the corresponding application, provided that certain conditions are met. Those conditions include sufficient correspondence in the claims of the two applications and the search and examination results of the OFF being made available to the OSF.

Through the PPH program, the examination results of the OFF are used to expedite the application process in the OSF, thereby reducing the workload and improving patent quality. If deemed patentable by the OFF, corresponding application is filed in advance for accelerated examination in the OSF.

OEE(Office of Earlier Examination)

Outline of requirements and documents to be submitted for participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway

Outline of requirements

1. An application (including a PCT national application) in the OSF which validly claims priority to an application in the OFF
2. An application in the OFF with at least one claim deemed to be patentable/allowable
3. All claims in the OSF application must sufficiently correspond to or be amended to sufficiently correspond to one or more of patentable/allowable claims from the OFF

Outline of documents to be submitted

1. Copies and translations of claims which are deemed patentable in the OFF
2. Copies and translations of all office actions in the OFF
3. Copies of references cited by the OFF's examiner
4. A claims correspondence table
* Please refer to guidelines below for the process of submitting the detailed requirements and documents.

Request Form

Request Form : English Download Korean Download

IP5 PPH

The five IP offices (IP5) agreed to extend the implementation of the IP5 PPH, of which duration commences on January 6, 2020 lasting three years until January 5 2023
The five IP offices (IP5) agreed to extend the implementation of the IP5 PPH, of which duration commences on January 6, 2017 lasting three years until January 5 2020
- Tokyo 2016 IP5 Press Release : Download
The five IP offices (IP5) agreed to start the IP5 PPH on January 6, 2014, according to a decision at the IP5 Heads Meeting held in September 23, 2013.
Agreed Record of Discussion between IP5 Heads of Office : English Download
Patent Prosecution Highway Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway program:
  English Download Korean Download
IP5 PPH website :

Global PPH

The Global PPH has commenced on 6 January, 2014. The offices involved in the Global PPH (GPPH) pilot are IP Australia (IP Australia), Austrian Patent Office (APO), Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO), Danish Patent and Trademark Office (DKPTO), Estonian Patent Office (EPA), Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH), German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA), Hungarian Intellectual Property Office (HIPO), Icelandic Patent Office (IPO), Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ), Israel Patent Office (ILPO), Japan Patent Office (JPO), Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), Nordic Patent Institute (NPI), Norwegian Industrial Property Office (NIPO), National Institute for the Defense of Competition and the Protection of Intellectual Property of Peru (INDECOPI), National Institute of Industrial Property of Chile (INAPI), Patent Office of the Republic of Poland (PPO), Portuguese Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), Russian Federal Service for Intellectual Property (ROSPATENT), Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (SPTO), Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC), Swedish Patent and Registration Office (PRV), United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO), United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and Visegrad Patent Institute (VPI), Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia(MyIPO)
Framework Provision for the Global PPH : English Download
Patent Prosecution Highway Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway program:
  English Download Korean Download

Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the DPMA

KIPO and the DPMA agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in March 2010 to start a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program on July 1, 2010. Details about procedures in each office are found in the documents below.
- Joint Announcement of the Continuation of the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between KIPO and DPMA :
  English Download Korean Download
Patent Prosecution Highway Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program:
  English Download Korean Download
Patent Prosecution Highway Request to the DPMA
- For more details on the procedure, request form, and so on, please visit the DPMA website below :
  http://www.dpma.de/english/patent/procedures/pph/index.html

Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and IMPI

KIPO and IMPI extend to the pilot program in its current status, of which duration is three years from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2023.
KIPO and IMPI agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in March 2012 to start a PPH pilot program on July 1, 2012. Details on requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below.
PPH Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
  English Download Korean Download
PPH Request to IMPI
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to IMPI for participation in the PPH program can be found at the IMPI website
  : http://www.impi.gob.mx/wb/IMPI/programa_piloto_del_procedimiento
  _acelerado_index

Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the IPOPHL

KIPO and IPOPHL extend to the pilot program in its current status, of which duration is two years starting from May 1, 2017. The duration will be automatically extended for equal periods, unless one office notifies the other in writing of its wish to terminate this agreement.
- Joint Announcement of the Continuation of the PPH: English Download
KIPO and IMPI agreed at the Commissioner's Meeting held in April 2014 to start a PPH pilot program. The commencing date is July 1, 2015. Details on requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below.
PPH Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
  English Download Korean Download
PPH Request to IMPI
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to IMPI for participation in the PPH program can be found at the IPOPHL website
  : http://www.ipophil.gov.ph/index.php/services/patents/patent-prosecution-highway-pph

Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the TIPO

KIPO and TIPO agreed to start a PPH pilot program. The commencing date is July 1, 2015. Details on requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below.
PPH Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
  English Download Korean Download
PPH Request to TIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to TIPO for participation in the PPH program :
  English Download

Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the SIC

KIPO and SIC agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in October 2015 to start a PPH pilot program on February 1, 2016 for an indefinite time period, unless one office notisfies the other in writing of its wish to terminate this agreement. Details on requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below.
PPH Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
  English Download Korean Download

Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the EAPO

KIPO and the EAPO agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in September 2018 to launch a PPH and PCT-PPH pilot program on January 1, 2019 for three years. Details on the requirements and procedures of each office can be found in the documents below.
PPH Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to APO for participation in the PPH/PCT-PPH program :
  English Download Korean Download
PPH/PCT-PPH Request to the EAPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to the EAPO for participation in the PPH/PCT-PPH program :
  English Download

Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and IP Viet Nam

KIPO and IP Viet Nam agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in May 2018 to launch a PPH pilot program on June 1, 2019 for two years. Details on the requirements and procedures of each office can be found in the documents below.
PPH Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :;
  English Download Korean Download
PPH Request to IP Viet Nam
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to IP Viet Nam for participation in the PPH program :
  English Download

Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the SAIP

KIPO and the SAIP agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in January 2018 to launch a PPH pilot program on July 1, 2019 for three years. Details on the requirements and procedures of each office can be found in the documents below.
PPH Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
  English Download Korean Download
PPH Request to the SAIP
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to the SAIP for participation in the PPH program :
  English Download

Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and INPI

KIPO and the INPI agreed to launch a PPH pilot program on April 1, 2020 for two years. Details on the requirements and procedures of each office can be found in the documents below.
PPH Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
  English Download Korean Download
PPH Request to INPI
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to INPI for participation in the PPH program :
  English Download

Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and MyIPO

KIPO and the INPI agreed to launch a PPH pilot program on December 1, 2020 for three(3) years.
Details on the requirements and procedures of each office can be found in the documents below.
PPH Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
  English Download Korean Download
PPH Request to MyIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to MyIPO for participation in the PPH program :
  English Download

Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and JPO

KIPO and JPO agreed to start a Patent Prosecution Highway on April 1, 2007, according to a decision at the Commissioners' Meeting held in November 2005. Details about procedures in each office are found in the documents below.
KIPO and JPO agreed to include a PCT application without priority claim in the eligible applications for the KIPO-JPO PPH. This agreement came into effect on July 1, 2009.
Patent Prosecution Highway Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
  Japanese Download Korean Download
Patent Prosecution Highway Request to JPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to JPO for participation in the PPH program :
  Japanese Download Korean Download
- For more details on the procedure, request form, and so on, please visit JPO's website below:
- Request form example : http://www.jpo.go.jp/torikumi/t_torikumi/program_style_Korea.htm
- JPO's PPH website : http://www.jpo.go.jp/torikumi_e/t_torikumi_e/patent_highway_e.htm

Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the USPTO

KIPO and the USPTO agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in September 2007 to start a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program in January, 2008. The Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program commenced on January 28, 2008, for a period of one year and ended on January 28, 2009. KIPO and the USPTO agreed to the full implementation of the PPH between KIPO and the USPTO from January 29, 2009, under the same conditions as the pilot program.
Joint Announcement on the Full Implementation of the Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the USPTO
Patent Prosecution Highway Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program:
  English Download Korean Download
Patent Prosecution Highway Request to the USPTO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to the USPTO for participation in the PPH program
  English Download Korean Download
- Request form: English Download
- For more details on the procedure, request form, and so on, please visit the USPTO website below:
- http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/pph/pph_kipo.html

PCT-PPH between KIPO and the USPTO

KIPO and the USPTO agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in June 2011 to start a PCT-PPH pilot program in July, 2011. The PCT-PPH pilot program commenced on July 1, 2011, for a period of 11 months and ended on May 31, 2012. KIPO and the USPTO agreed to the full implementation of the PCT-PPH between KIPO and the USPTO from June 1, 2012, under the same conditions as the pilot program.
Joint Announcement on the Full Implementation of the PCT-PPH between KIPO and the USPTO
PCT-PPH Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PCT-PPH program:
  English Download Korean Download
PCT-PPH Request to the USPTO
- For more details on the procedure, request form, and so on, please visit the USPTO website below:
- http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/pct_pph_kipo.jsp

Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the DKPTO

KIPO and the DKPTO agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in September 2008 to start a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program on March 1, 2009. After the one-year pilot period, KIPO and the DKPTO agreed to extend the PPH pilot program in its current state.
- Joint Announcement of the Continuation of the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between KIPO and the DKPTO
- English Download Korean Download
Patent Prosecution Highway Request to KIPO
Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program:
English Download Korean Download
PCT-PPH Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PCT-PPH program:
  English Download Korean Download
Patent Prosecution Highway Request to the DKPTO
- For more details on the procedure, request form, and so on, please visit the DKPTO website below:
  http://internationalcooperation.dkpto.org/patent-prosecution-highways.aspx

Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the UK-IPO

KIPO and the UK-IPO agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in June 2009 to start a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program on October 1, 2009. Details about procedures in each office are found in the documents below.
- Joint Announcement of the Continuation of the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between KIPO and the UK-IPO
  English Download Korean Download
Patent Prosecution Highway Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in PPH program:
  English Download Korean Download
Patent Prosecution Highway Request to the UK-IPO
- For more details on the procedure, request form, and so on, please visit the UK-IPO website below:
  http://www.ipo.gov.uk/types/patent/p-applying/p-after/p-pph/p-pph-kipo.html

Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and CIPO

KIPO and CIPO agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in September 2009 to start a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program on October 1, 2009. Details about procedures in each office are found in the documents below.
- Joint Announcement of the Continuation of the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between KIPO and CIPO:
  English Download Korean Download
Patent Prosecution Highway Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program:
  English Download Korean Download
Patent Prosecution Highway Request to CIPO
- For more details on the procedure, request form, and so on, please visit the CIPO website below:
  http://www.opic.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr02160.html

Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and ROSPATENT

KIPO and ROSPATENT agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held on June 23, 2009 to start a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program on November 2, 2009. Details about procedures in each office are found in the documents below.
- Joint Announcement of the Continuation of the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between KIPO and ROSPATENT:
  English Download Korean Download
Patent Prosecution Highway Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program:
  English Download Korean Download
Patent Prosecution Highway Request to ROSPATENT
- For more details on the procedure, request form, and so on, please visit the ROSPATENT website below :
  http://www1.fips.ru/wps/wcm/connect/content_en/en/main/

Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the NBPR

KIPO and the NBPR agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in September 2009 to start a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program on January 4, 2010. Details about procedures in each office are found in the documents below.
- Joint Announcement of the Continuation of the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between KIPO and the NBPR
  English Download Korean Download
Patent Prosecution Highway Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program:
  English Download Korean Download
Patent Prosecution Highway Request to the NBPR
- For more details on the procedure, request form, and so on, please visit the NBPR website below :
  http://www.prh.fi/en/patentit/pph.html

Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the SPTO

KIPO and the SPTO agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in May 2011 to start a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program on July 1, 2011. Details about procedures in each office are found in the documents below.
- Joint Announcement of the Continuation of the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between KIPO and SPTO :
  English Download Korean Download
Patent Prosecution Highway Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in a Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program:
  English Download Korean Download
Patent Prosecution Highway Request to the NBPR
- For more details on the procedure, request form, and so on, please visit the SPTO website below :
  http://www.oepm.es/cs/OEPMSite/contenidos/PPH/Paises/Corea/Corea.htm

Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and SIPO

Notice of Extension
- The PPH pilot program between the State Intellectual Office of the People's Republic of China and the Korean Intellectual Property Office will be extended from 1 March 2016 for an indefinite time period: The PPH pilot program between the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China (SIPO) and the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) commenced on 1 March 2012 and will expire on 29 February 2016. On the basis of Joint decision between the SIPO and the KIPO, THE PPH pilot program between SIPO and KIPO will be extended from 1 March 2016 for an indefinite time period, unless one office notifies the other in writing of its wish to terminate this agreement. The guidelines concerning the implementation of this pilot program shall continue to apply.
PPH & PCT-PPH Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH & PCT-PPH programs:
  English Download Korean(PPH) Download
PPH & PCT-PPH Request to SIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to SIPO for participation in the PPH & PCT-PPH programs can be found at the SIPO website
  http://www.sipo.gov.cn/ztzl/ywzt/pph

PCT-PPH between KIPO and the JPO

KIPO and JPO agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in June 2012 to start a PCT-PPH pilot program on July 1, 2012. Details on requirements and procedures in each office are found in the documents below.
PCT-PPH Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PCT-PPH program :
  English Download Korean Download
PCT-PPH Request to the JPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to JPO for participation in the PCT-PPH program can be found at the JPO website
  :http://www.jpo.go.jp/torikumi_e/t_torikumi_e/pph_pct/pct_e.htm

Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and HIPO

KIPO and HIPO agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in October 2012 to launch a PPH pilot program on January 1, 2013. Details on the requirements and procedures of each office can be found in the documents below.
PPH Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program:
  English Download Korean Download
PPH Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to HIPO for participation in the PPH program:
  English Download
PPH Request to HIPO
- For more details on the procedure, request form, and so on, please visit the HIPO website listed below:
  English http://www.sztnh.gov.hu/English/szabadalom/pph/index.html

Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and IPOS

KIPO and IPOS agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in October 2012 to launch a PPH pilot program on January 1, 2013. Details on the requirements and procedures of each office can be found in the documents below.
PPH Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH program :
  English Download Korean Download
PPH Request to IPOS
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to IPOS for participation in the PPH program :
  English Download
- For more details on the procedure, request form, and so on, please visit the IPOS website listed below :
  : http://www.ipos.gov.sg/AboutIP/TypesofIPWhatisIntellectualProperty/
  Whatisapatent/Applyingforapatent/PatentProsecutionHighwayPPH.aspx

PPH and PCT-PPH between KIPO and APO

KIPO and APO agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in December 2012 to launch a PPH and PCT-PPH pilot program on March 1, 2013. Details on the requirements and procedures of each office can be found in the documents below.
PPH/PCT-PPH Request to KIPO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to KIPO for participation in the PPH/PCT-PPH program :
  English Download Korean(PPH) Download Korean(PCT-PPH) Download
PPH/PCT-PPH Request to APO
- Requirements and procedures for filing a request to APO for participation in the PPH/PCT-PPH program :
  English Download

Patent Prosecution Highway between KIPO and the PPO

KIPO and the PPO agreed at the Commissioners' Meeting held in Oct 5, 2016 to start a PPH pilot program on January 1, 2017 for three years.

Last updated 28 December 2020
Patent System Administration Division

KIPO's Activites

Patent Prosecution Highway

IP5 PPH ((January 6, 2014)

Global PPH (January 6, 2014)