The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) of Bahrain have initiated a Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot project. This initiative, effective from May 1, 2024, to April 30, 2029, aims to simplify the patent application process for innovators.

After the launch of the PPH program, applicants can submit PPH requests to CNIPA under the “Procedure for Filing PPH Requests with the China National Intellectual Property Office (CNIPA) under the PPH Pilot Project.” Similarly, applicants can submit PPH requests to MOIC under “Procedure for Filing PPH Requests with the Patent Office of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) of Bahrain’s Foreign Trade and Intellectual Property Department under the PPH Pilot Project.”

PPH requests are processed under specific guidelines outlined in the “Procedures for Filing PPH Requests with the Patent Office of the Foreign Trade and Intellectual Property Office of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Bahrain (MOIC) under the Patent Examination Highway Pilot Project.”

When an applicant gets a favourable decision on a patent claim from CNIPA or MOIC, they can use the PPH program to speed up the review of related claims in the other office. This expedites the approval of patents and minimizes effort duplication.

The PPH program is an international initiative that speeds up the processing of patent applications by sharing labour across patent offices. This relationship between China and Bahrain is CNIPA’s 33rd PPH worldwide.

- Excel V. Dyquiangco