The 5 IP offices project

Online, December 19, 2009 (Newswire.com) - 5 IP offices project started in 2008. This project unites the efforts of 5 patent offices, the European Patent Office, United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Japanese Patent Office, Korean Patent Office and Patent Office of China.
The project aims to harmonize procedures for the granting of patents and facilitating access to patent information and documentation. Basis for implementation of this objective, agencies will use the PCT system.
The main elements underlying the project are:
* Common Documentation (lead: EPO)

* Common Hybrid Classification (lead: EPO)

* Common Access to Search and Examination Results (lead: JPO)

* Common Application Format (lead: JPO)

* Common Training Policy (lead: KIPO)

* Mutual Machine Translation (lead: KIPO)

* Common Examination Practice Rules and Quality Management (lead: SIPO)

* Common Statistical Parameter System for Examination (lead: SIPO)

* Common Approach to Sharing and Documenting Search Strategies (lead: USPTO)

* Common Search and Examination Support Tools (lead: USPTO)