COLOMBIA, MEXICO, PERU AND CHILE
SIGN A PATENT PROSECUTION HIGHWAY AGREEMENT
In the framework of the XI Pacific Alliance Summit Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Chile issued a joint statement in order to implement a pilot program in regards to the Patent Prosecution Highway involving the different Trademark and Patent Offices in the mentioned countries.
The Trademark and Patent Offices from Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Chile have signed a pilot agreement to implement a Patent Prosecution Highway procedure which aims that the grant decisions that occur in any of the mentioned Patent Offices are taken into account by the other members of the program in order to save costs associated with administrative actions, patent search and patent examination made by any of the mentioned offices, for which there is already a manual with the procedural requirements and analysis.
The pilot program will last for three years, after which the possibility of implementing a longer period of time will be evaluated. The hope is that this program accelerates the granting of patents.