MUNICH - The European Patent Office (EPO) and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) of Bahrain have concluded bilateral agreements, establishing a cooperative framework to facilitate resource and knowledge sharing, harmonize global patent practice and enhance efficiency within the patent system, a press release stated by EPO. 

Effective from January 12, 2025, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral cooperation will remain in force until the end of 2027. The EPO and the MOIC will explore opportunities to streamline the processing of international and national applications.

The PPH pilot commenced on March 1, 2025, for an initial term of two years. During the pilot, applicants to the MOIC may request faster processing of their applications at the EPO if the claims have been deemed patentable by the MOIC, and vice versa. By leveraging work already completed, the program reduces duplication of effort and improves the overall efficiency of the patent system.

The EPO’s PPH portfolio

The EPO has established PPH programs with eighteen institutions, including:

• the IP5 offices, namely the world's five largest IP offices, comprising the European Patent Office (EPO), the Japan Patent Office (JPO), the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), the National Intellectual Property Administration of the People's Republic of China (CNIPA) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO); as well as with
• the national IP offices of Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore and Saudi Arabia.