The USPTO begins its new fiscal year in October. USPTO has announced the continuation of numerous pilot programs beyond 2023.
Fast-track appeals pilot program
The Pilot Program for Fast-Track Appeals has been extended through July 2, 2024. This procedure, as mentioned in this article, allows applicants to pay a $400 fee to accelerate the Board review of ex parte appeals of an examiner’s decision. The USPTO stated in issuing the extension that “the current average appeal pendency is roughly 12 months, down from 15 months in 2020 and 30 months in 2015.” The notice appears to urge applicants to appeal final rejections rather than pursuing prosecution, claiming that “[u]sing the appeal process may be more expeditious for inventors and may speed the ultimate issuance of patents as opposed to a request for continued examination practice.”
Cancer Immunotherapy Pilot Program
Cancer Immunotherapy Pilot Program (also known as Patents 4 Patients) has been extended until January 31, 2023. This program is meant to help the Cancer Moonshot project and foster cancer treatment innovation by providing a fee-free accelerated assessment of patent applications claiming immunotherapy techniques for treating cancer. The USPTO announced that approximately 650 patents had been awarded under the pilot program as of the announcement of the extension.
The Climate Change Mitigation Pilot Program (for innovations that reduce greenhouse gas emissions) is expected to end on June 5, 2023, while the Covid-19 Prioritized Examination Pilot Program (available solely to applicants with Small Entity or Micro Entity status) is scheduled to end on December 31, 2022.
After Final Consideration Pilot Program 2.0
The list of US IP Firms can be found here.