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Tag Archives: Expedited Examination

USPTO Launches Humanitarian Awards Pilot Program

Posted by Courtenay Brinckerhoff on Posted in Patent Office Practice; Uncategorized

The USPTO has announced that it is launching its pilot program “to incentivize the distribution of patented technologies to address humanitarian needs.” As explained in the  Federal Register Notice, “the pilot program will be run as an awards competition.” The program will be open to owners of granted patents and pending patent applications in four technology areas: Medical Technology, Food & Nutrition, Clean Technology, and Information Technology. Selected applicants will receive “a certificate redeemable to accelerate select matters before the USPTO” as well as public recognition, “including an award ceremony at the USPTO.” Program applications will be accepted from March 1, 2012, through August 31, 2012, or until 1,000 program applications are accepted. Up to 50 winners will be accepted.Continue reading this entry

USPTO Updates Special Programs

Posted by Courtenay Brinckerhoff on Posted in Patent Office Practice; Uncategorized

Last week, the USPTO issued two separate Federal Register Notices updating several of its special programs: the Patent Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan, the Green Technology Pilot Program, and the Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program. Continue reading this entry

USPTO Opens Track I Expedited Examination To RCEs

Posted by Courtenay Brinckerhoff on Posted in Patent Office Practice

In today’s Federal Register Notice, the USPTO announces the expansion of its Track I program for fee-based expedited examination to include Requests for Continued Examination (RCEs). While this may be good news on a practical level, it exacts a high price to obtain prompt review of an application that already is midstream in the examination process. The change takes effect immediately, and applies to RCEs filed before, on, or after December 19, 2011.Continue reading this entry

Tidbits From IPO PTO Day

Posted by Courtenay Brinckerhoff on Posted in Patent Office Practice

I was co-chair of last week’s IPO PTO Day conference, and it was a great event. The program included several speakers from the USPTO, including Commissioner for Patents Bob Stoll, Deputy Commissioner for Patents Peggy Focarino, Chief Administrative Patent Judge James Smith, Vice Chief Administrative Patent Judge James Moore, and Administrative Patent Judge Michael Tierney. Director Kappos gave the luncheon address. Here are some interesting tidbits of the information that they shared.

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