USPTO and JPO Sign Green Technology PCT Agreement
Announced on July 1, 2015, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Japan Patent Office (JPO) have implemented an agreement, under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), in which the JPO will act as an available International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) for certain international applications filed with the USPTO that are directed to the field of green technology. The addition of JPO as an available ISA/IPEA will allow applicants additional flexibility in choosing an international authority based on the technology disclosed in the international application. The agreement took effect on July 1, 2015. It is intended to expire on June 30, 2018, but may be continued by mutual written consent.
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO Michelle Lee noted the importance of this agreement to provide applicants an additional option for examination of international applications directed to green technology.
