BRPTO Prioritizes First Patent Applications under PPH

On February 10, 2016, the BRPTO granted priority examination to the first set of patent applications under the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program. Applications include BR 10 2013 000290-9 filed by Suncoke Technology and Development LLC on January 4, 2013; BR 10 2013 032934-7 filed by Afton Chemical Corporation on December 20, 2013; and BR 10 2014 017479-6 filed by Afton Chemical Corporation on July 16, 2014.The PPH Pilot Program between the USPTO and the Brazilian PTO (BRPTO) started in January 2016. The small number of applicants (only two) allowed to include their patent applications into the PPH may be due to the limitations established for the Pilot Program in Brazil.The BRPTO limits participation in the Pilot Program to applications claiming a US or Brazilian priority that were filed in Brazil after January 2013. In addition, applications need to claim oil and gas related inventions including extraction, refining, transportation, and other activities (IPC B01, B63, C09K8, C10, E02, E21, F15, F16, F17, and G01).Please find more information about the PPH program at here.