Due to the many formalities, a considerable amount of time lapses between filing a patent application at the patent granting authority and the ultimate granting of the patent. Moreover, the authority could apply longer waiting times due to their workload. The green light however could, unexpectedly, also be given quickly. That is what happened to patent attorney Peter de Lange when he filed a patent application for a chemical installation for his client on June 23 at the Australian patent office. In the previous international (PCT) stage, the European Patent Office had already given the same application a favorable assessment. Because that previous assessment could positively influence the subsequent assessment in Australia, De Lange advised his client to opt for the Patent Prosecution Highway, an accelerated procedure that normally takes six weeks. He had a major surprise when he heard one day later that the patent would be granted. The client was happy with that. The strategy to make full use of the accelerated procedure was extremely successful.
