Taiwan-Japan Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program Launches on May 1st 2012 

ince the year of 2009, Taiwan unilaterally initiated the Accelerated Examination Program (AEP) for invention applications. The first bilateral PPH pilot program launched between TIPO and USPTO as of September 2011, followed by the program between TIPO and JPO on May 1st 2012.

The AEP parallels the PPH to allow broader eligibility in applying for accelerated patent examination.

According to TIPO statistics, an official opinion can be issued in 1.1 months after the application is filed under the PPH route, much faster than the 2.5 months pendency under the AEP route.