EPO and Partner Offices Launch User Survey to Enhance Patent Prosecution Highway Experience

The Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) is a collaborative framework designed to expedite the examination process of patent applications filed concurrently before multiple intellectual property offices. To support ongoing enhancements of the PPH system, the participating offices, including the European Patent Office (EPO), have launched a comprehensive user survey.

The survey period extends from 11 November to 11 December 2026 and builds upon feedback gathered during the plurilateral PPH meeting held at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) last year. The EPO has emphasized the importance of capturing the views of European applicants, patent attorneys, and other stakeholders to ensure their experiences and needs are accurately represented in the survey findings.

Responses will be collected and administered centrally by WIPO. The survey is designed to be concise, requiring approximately 10 minutes to complete, thereby encouraging broad participation.

The PPH mechanism allows patent applicants to request accelerated examination at an 'office of later examination' when at least one claim has been deemed patentable by an 'office of earlier examination' that participates in a PPH agreement. Currently, the EPO engages in PPH programmes with 17 countries, facilitating the use of search and examination results from partner offices. This approach reduces redundant work, shortens prosecution timelines, and maintains rigorous examination standards.

Beyond the PPH survey, the EPO continues to engage with stakeholders on various patent-related topics. Recent discussions in Munich have addressed issues such as divisional applications, third-party observations, and developments in healthcare-related patents.

Members of the SACEPO Working Party on Guidelines (WP/G) and the EPO have reviewed over 350 comments on the draft 2027 Guidelines, reflecting active user involvement in shaping examination standards.

The EPO has also initiated a new round of user satisfaction surveys to gather feedback across its core services, reinforcing its commitment to continuous improvement.

Users and the EPO have exchanged views on the recently published 2026 versions of the European Patent Convention (EPC), Patent Cooperation Treaty-EPO (PCT-EPO), and Unitary Patent (UP) Guidelines. Stakeholders are invited to submit comments on these guidelines until 3 April, which now incorporate content from former guides.

Further exchanges have focused on intellectual property awareness, the implementation of the Unitary Patent system, the integration of artificial intelligence in patent processes, and quality initiatives at the EPO.

Meetings have also enabled in-depth discussions on topics such as the grace period, prior user rights, and conflicting patent applications, reflecting the EPO’s proactive engagement with complex legal issues.

Preview versions of the 2026 EPC, PCT-EPO, and UP Guidelines were published recently, coinciding with the opening of the annual user consultation period.

Since the last consultation, the EPO has conducted approximately 130 meetings with a diverse range of applicants and user associations, facilitating ongoing dialogue and feedback that drive improvements in patent products and services.

User representatives have contributed nearly 400 comments on draft guidelines, demonstrating robust participation in the rule-making process.

Feedback from users indicates high satisfaction with EPO services, while also highlighting key areas that require further attention to enhance patent examination and prosecution.

Recent discussions have covered developments in patent quality, the European Qualifying Examination (EQE), user feedback mechanisms, and the EPO’s Patent Information and Licensing Observatory.

This constructive dialogue underscores the value of public consultation in refining patent systems and ensuring they meet the evolving needs of the innovation community.

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