ISRAEL UPDATE: Accelerated Examination Options at the Israel Patent Office

Efficient patent prosecution is a central concern for inventors and businesses seeking timely protection for their innovations. To address this need, the Israel Patent Office (ILPO) offers several programs designed to accelerate or fast‑track the examination of patent applications. These mechanisms cater to different circumstances—ranging from personal hardship to strategic reliance on foreign examination results—and provide applicants with valuable tools for reducing pendency and advancing toward patent grant more quickly.

1. General Acceleration Programs
The ILPO permits applicants to request accelerated examination under defined circumstances, including age or health considerations, alleged third‑party use of the invention, undue examination delay, and matters of public interest. These pathways ensure protection is not delayed when timely examination is necessary.

2. Green Channel for Environmentally Beneficial Technologies
Israel’s ‘Green Channel’ enables expedited examination for inventions with clear environmental benefits. Applicants must demonstrate that their invention contributes to sustainability, pollution reduction, or comparable ecological advantages.

3. Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)
Under the PPH, applicants may leverage an allowance from a corresponding application in a participating foreign jurisdiction. This mechanism avoids duplicate review and may substantially reduce Israeli examination time.

4. Modified Examination
Applicants may submit a granted patent from a participating jurisdiction and request Modified Examination. This allows the ILPO to rely on foreign findings, streamlining prosecution and reducing the likelihood of substantive disputes.

5. Expected Timelines and Pendency Considerations
Following approval of an acceleration request, the ILPO typically issues a first Office Action within approximately three months. Once accelerated, examination proceeds significantly faster than standard prosecution, as the application receives prioritized handling throughout its lifecycle.

Applicants must adhere strictly to statutory deadlines to remain on the accelerated track. Extensions of time are generally not available; requesting one usually removes the application from fast‑track status and returns it to normal examination timelines.

Although timelines vary depending on case complexity, examiner workload, and any objections raised, accelerated cases generally reach final disposition far earlier than standard filings. While the ILPO offers no guarantees, our firm has handled accelerated cases that advanced from fast‑track approval to allowance in as little as five months—demonstrating the significant strategic value of pursuing accelerated examination when appropriate.

Questions? Feel free to reach out directly to Jeremy.Ben-David@JMBDavis.com or visit our website: www.JMBDavis.com.