The German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA) is following with great concern the armed conflicts following Russia's attack on Ukraine in violation of international law. For this reason, the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) between the DPMA and the Federal Service for Intellectual Property, Patents and Trademarks of Russia (ROSPATENT) will be suspended effective September 1, 2022.

Please note that as of September 1, 2022, the DPMA will no longer grant requests for participation in the PPH if these requests are based on work results carried out by ROSPATENT as Office of Earlier Examination (OEE) under the PPH. The PPH is an agreement between patent offices to mutually expedite patent application procedures. Once the claims filed have been determined to be grantable by an initial search office, the applicant can take advantage of the PPH program at the partner offices. These offices then process the application on an accelerated basis, but without being bound by the earlier examination result. This is intended to increase the quality of the examination and at the same time make the process more efficient.