The JPO and the DPMA agreed to further extend the trial period of the PPH pilot program for another two years from March 25, 2012. That is, the term of the PPH pilot program with Germany has been extended to March 25, 2014.

Further, both countries started the PPH-MOTTAINAI pilot program from November 2012. The PPH-MOTTAINAI program is designed to allow patent applications to file requests for an accelerated examination under the PPH for applications that have been deemed patentable by one of the participating patent offices, regardless of which office was first to receive the filing.

Patent Prosecution Highway Portal Site (JPO):
http://www.jpo.go.jp/ppph-portal/index.htm