The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) has announced a significant development in the realm of patent prosecution: the initiation of the “PPH Improvement Initiative” in collaboration with key patent offices from the United States, Europe, Japan, and South Korea. This initiative aims to elevate the user experience of the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) by setting ambitious targets for the average cycle time of the first office action and the average cycle time for replying to applicants’ responses, both now set at three months starting from 2024. Here’s a concise summary of the specific changes: Timeline Before After Average Cycle Time for First Notice Within Four Months Within Three Months…
