It was recently announced that the USPTO and IP Australia, the agency of the Australian Government that administers patents, trade marks, designs and Plant Breeder’s Rights, are extending their ongoing project whereby IP Australia performs specific examination services for the USPTO. This project, now in its second year and being extended through February, 2008, provides for search and examination services to be provided by IP Australia on PCT applications filed with the USPTO. According to the USPTO press release (link below), “[c]ooperation on PCT search and examination work is part of the USPTO's ongoing efforts to improve examination efficiency and quality, while reducing the growing backlog of U.S. national patent applications waiting to be examined,” and that “[the] USPTO found that the quality and accuracy of the work done by IP Australia during phase one warrants extending the project and increasing the number of applications it processes.” The USPTO anticipates that IP Australia will review 100 PCT applications per month over the next year, helping the USPTO “to dedicate more resources to examining the over 800,000 national applications currently in the pipeline, with the goal of increasing productivity and enhancing quality.”

USPTO Press Release: LINK
IP Australia Website: LINK
IP Australia Patent Database Website: LINK
IP Australia Trademark Database Website: LINK