The Expanded Collaborative Search Pilot (CSP) is designed to provide the examiners with the best prior art by combining the search expertise of examiners at the USPTO and JPO or KIPO before issuing an office action in the patent application. The first phase of the CSP was recently completed in the summer of 2017. Building upon the successful first phase, the second phase is now under way in the continued efforts to usher in more efficient prosecution and improve patent quality.

Joseph Matal, Performing the Functions and Duties of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office said:

“Collaboration with our partner offices has demonstrated that coordinating our examination efforts provides significant benefits to all parties – Offices and applicants alike. I look forward to seeing this program expand and become a strategy for applicants who file multinationally”.

Read the Press Release from the USPTO at https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/news-updates/cooperation-expanded-collaborative-search-pilot-jpo-and-kipo