The USPTO Extends Pilot Program of the IP5 Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)

By Ashley Reed

On January 20, 2026, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced that it would extend its IP5 Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program through January 5, 2029, reaffirming its commitment to expedited patent prosecution and enhanced international intellectual property cooperation.[1] 

Originally launched in 2014, the IP5 PPH enables the USPTO to leverage search and examination results from another IP5 office in order to accelerate prosecution, reduce duplicative examination efforts, and promote greater consistency across major patent jurisdictions—while continuing to conduct an independent examination under U.S. patent law.[2]  Under the program, a patent applicant whose claims have been determined allowable in an application filed in one IP5 office may request a fast-track examination of corresponding claims in an application filed in another IP5 office.[3] 

The IP5 offices participating alongside the USPTO include the European Patent Office (EPO), the Japan Patent Office (JPO), the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP), and the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA).[4]

Prior to the January 2026 announcement, the IP5 PPH Pilot Program was scheduled to terminate on January 5, 2026.[5]  Following the three-year extension, the USPTO will now treat as timely any PPH request based on the work product of an IP5 office filed on or before January 5, 2029.[6]  In addition, the USPTO will treat as timely any PPH request based on IP5 office work product filed during the interim period between January 5, 2026 and January 20, 2026.[7]

In summary, companies with international patent portfolios should take note that the global patent system continues to favor expedited review of corresponding claims across IP5 member offices.  Notably, U.S. stakeholders submitted approximately 11,00 PPH requests in 2024, resulting in faster patent decisions, lower prosecution costs, and increased certainty in the international patent landscape.[8]  Companies considering international patent filings may benefit from consulting with patent counsel experienced in global prosecution to assess how the IP5 PPH Program can be strategically leveraged as part of a broader patent counseling strategy.

References

[1]              U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Official Gazette Notice, Continuation of the IP5 Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program with the IP5 Offices.

[2]              U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) - Fast Track Examination of Applications (https://www.uspto.gov/patents/basics/international-protection/patent-prosecution-highway-pph-fast-track?utm_campaign=subscriptioncenter&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=).

[3]              U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) - Fast Track Examination of Applications (https://www.uspto.gov/patents/basics/international-protection/patent-prosecution-highway-pph-fast-track?utm_campaign=subscriptioncenter&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=).

[4]              U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Official Gazette Notice, Continuation of the IP5 Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program with the IP5 Offices.

[5]              1507 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 456 (February 28, 2023).

[6]              U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Official Gazette Notice, Continuation of the IP5 Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program with the IP5 Offices.

[7]              U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Official Gazette Notice, Continuation of the IP5 Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program with the IP5 Offices.

[8]              U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Update to Patent Prosecution Highway Docketing (https://www.uspto.gov/subscription-center/2025/update-patent-prosecution-highway-docketing) (October 28, 2025).