The Intellectual Property Office of Viet Nam (IP Viet Nam) and the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) have launched a new Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program. The program will be in effect for two years, commencing on June 1, 2019, and ending on May 31, 2021. The number of requests accepted per year is limited to 100 from each office.

Under the PPH, a patent applicant in Vietnam can request an accelerated examination if the application is related to a Korean application or a PCT application in which the KIPO is the receiving office, and meets certain other conditions. For detailed information on these conditions and the procedures for filing a request, please see the attached IP Viet Nam Guidelines.

This is Vietnam’s second PPH program, following a successful pilot program with the Japanese Patent Office. The Japanese pilot program was also limited to 100 PPH requests per year in the first three years, and these limits were reached very quickly. Thus, if you are hoping to take advantage of the Vietnam-Korea PPH, you are advised to file your requests as soon as possible.

Please contact [email protected] for further information on the pilot program or for assistance with filing PPH requests.