Bahrain and South Korea have launched a three-year Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program, effective January 15, 2025, to accelerate patent examinations between the two countries. Implemented in collaboration with the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), the initiative aims to streamline the examination process and reduce approval times.

Under the PPH, once a patent application has been reviewed and approved by an Office of Earlier Examination (OEE), the Office of Later Examination (OLE) will fast-track its review of the same application. This approach reduces redundancy, speeds up processing, and enhances examination quality by leveraging prior findings.

Bahrain’s current patent processing timeline ranges from 36 to 48 months, while in South Korea, it averages 20.1 months. The new program allows applicants with an approved patent in South Korea to benefit from an expedited review in Bahrain, potentially shortening approval times. Similar initiatives have significantly reduced processing durations in other jurisdictions.

For further details, contact news@sabaip.com.