The Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the French Industrial Property Office (INPI) have announced the launch of the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) from January 1, 2021.
Japan will be the first in the world to launch a patent prosecution highway with France.
This means that an application that has been determined to be patentable in Japan can, upon application by the applicant, receive accelerated examination in France in a simplified procedure.
Currently, JPO has the largest number of PPH partner countries/regions in the world, and with this agreement, the number of countries/regions with which it has concluded PPH is 45.
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2020/11/20201127002/20201127002.html