[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 64 (Monday, April 4, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 19486]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-06885]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Patent and Trademark Office

[Docket No. PTO-P-2022-0010]


Termination of Global Patent Prosecution Highway With Rospatent

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or 
Office) will no longer grant requests to participate in the Global 
Patent Prosecution Highway (GPPH) at the USPTO when such requests are 
based on work performed by Rospatent as an Office of Earlier 
Examination under the GPPH. In addition, in pending cases in which, 
prior to March 11, 2022, the USPTO granted special status under the 
GPPH to applications based on work performed by Rospatent, the USPTO 
will remove that status and return those applications to the regular 
processing and examination queue.

DATES: Termination date: March 11, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Petitions, at 571-272-3282 
or PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USPTO has terminated engagement with 
officials from Russia's agency in charge of intellectual property, the 
Federal Service for Intellectual Property (commonly known as 
Rospatent), and with the Eurasian Patent Organization. The USPTO has 
also terminated engagement with officials from the national 
intellectual property office of Belarus.
    Effective March 11, 2022, the USPTO will no longer grant requests 
to participate in the GPPH at the USPTO when such requests are based on 
work performed by Rospatent as an Office of Earlier Examination under 
the GPPH. In addition, in pending cases in which, prior to March 11, 
2022, the USPTO granted special status under the GPPH to applications 
based on work performed by Rospatent, the USPTO will remove that status 
and return those applications to the regular processing and examination 
queue.
    The USPTO has advised the Japan Patent Office, which serves as the 
Secretariat for the GPPH, of this decision.

Andrew Hirshfeld,
Commissioner for Patents, Performing the functions and duties of the 
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2022-06885 Filed 4-1-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P