Updated June 17, 2026
The Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) lets an application found allowable by one office be examined quickly at another office through a simplified procedure. The Japanese and Korean offices have operated PPH since April 2007.
Benefits of PPH
Faster grant
Uses the first office’s results to obtain examination faster than usual.
Shared results
Both offices share examination results, reducing duplicate work.
Lower cost/effort
Earlier rights support business strategy.
How to Use PPH
1
First office examination
One office (e.g., JPO) finds claims allowable or grants
2
Corresponding applicationClaims must correspond
A corresponding application exists at the other office (e.g., KIPO)
3
PPH requestUsually no fee
Submit the request and required documents
4
Accelerated examination
The second office examines quickly, referring to the first office’s results
5
Result
A grant decision is reached promptly
Types of PPH
Normal PPH
Based on the offices’ ordinary examination results (allowable claims).
PCT-PPH
Based on PCT international search/preliminary examination results (written opinion, etc.).
Global PPH (GPPH)
A multilateral framework using common requirements among many participating offices.
Recent Developments
2007–
Japan–Korea PPH
Since April 2007 the scheme has expanded to PCT-PPH and Global PPH.
Ongoing
More participants
GPPH participating offices keep growing, increasing its value for global filing strategies.
[Sources] 経済産業省 特許庁 · 特許審査ハイウェイ(PPH)