A centralized listing of major Patent Application Initiatives provides applicants with access to information on several patent initiatives designed to advance and support the examination process. Compare the various patent application initiatives that are available prior to examination, during examination, or after close of prosecution to evaluate and contrast the benefits of participating.
Patents Customer Partnership Meetings
Lists of future and past Partnership Meetings, implemented as a collaborative effort to give the IP community and the USPTO a forum to discuss items of mutual interest.
Patent Quality
Providing high-quality, efficient examination of patent application is paramount to our mission at USPTO.
Accelerated Examination
Learn more about the established procedures under which the examination of a patent application may be accelerated.
After Final Consideration Pilot 2.0
The After Final Consideration Pilot 2.0 (AFCP 2.0) is part of the USPTO's on-going efforts towards compact prosecution and increased collaboration between examiners and stakeholders.
Complex Work Unit Pilot Program
The USPTO's Complex Work Unit (CWU) Pilot Program helps users simplify online access to, and availability of, USPTO information and data for purposes of improved examination of applications, as well as publication of pre-grant publications and patent grants.
Full First Action Interview Pilot Program
Under the Full First Action Interview Pilot Program, an applicant is entitled to a first action interview, upon request, prior to the first Office action on the merits. The examiner will conduct a prior art search and provide applicant with a condensed pre-interview communication citing relevant
Glossary Initiative
Find out more about White House Executive Action No. 2, high-tech patent issues, and the the Glossary Pilot Program.
Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs
Effective May 13, 2015, the provisions in Title I of the Patent Law Treaties Implementation Act of 2012 implement the 1999 Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs
Leahy-Smith America Invents Act Implementation
USPTO releases two new AIA reports on Virtual Marking and the Satellite Offices.
Patent Examiner Count System
The key objectives of the recently implemented count system are to provide more overall time for examination and to place emphasis on complete and thorough initial examination, encourage quicker resolution of issues, and to reduce unnecessary rework.
Patent Examiner Technical Training Program (PETTP)
The USPTO is expanding its Patent Examiner Technical Training Program (PETTP) and requesting voluntary assistance from Scientists, Engineers, Professors, and Industrial Designers to participate as guest lecturers. Volunteer your time and expertise as a guest lecturer to ensure patent examiners keep
Patent Law Treaty
Effective December 18, 2013 The provisions in the Patent Law Treaties Implementation Act of 2012 focus on harmonizing and streamlining many of the formal procedures for filing and processing a patent application.
Patents for Humanity
An awards competition for patent owners and licensees.
Patents 4 Patients
Also known as the Cancer Immunotherapy Pilot Program, this program provides a fast-track review for cancer immunotherapy-related patent applications without the need for applicant to pay a petition fee. Under this program, patent applications pertaining to cancer immunotherapy are advanced out of turn for examination, resulting in their accelerated review.
Patents Ombudsman Office
The Patents Ombudsman Program enhances the USPTO's ability to assist applicants or their representatives with issues that arise during patent application prosecution.
Prior Art Search
One initiative of the Software Partnership is the investigation and sharing of search strategies, and the improvement of tools and resources to evolve better techniques to identify prior art. Involvement of the scientific community in sharing best practices should help the USPTO identify the most relevant search resources and determine the best prior art for examination.
Quick Path Information Disclosure Statement (QPIDS)
The Quick Path Information Disclosure Statement (QPIDS) program is part of the USPTO's on-going efforts towards compact prosecution and pendency reduction.
Site Experience Education (SEE) Program
The SEE Program is designed to provide patent examiners with an opportunity to visit organizations and learn about state of the art technology developments. USPTO Seeking Organizations to Participate in the SEE Program
Stakeholder Training on Examination Practice and Procedure (STEPP)
The USPTO is offering in-person training to members of the public based on courses available to employees of the USPTO. The training focuses on examination practice and procedure.
Virtual Instructor Led Training (vILT)
The USPTO is offering training to members of the public on topics related to examination practice and procedure derived from the recent training delivered to experienced USPTO examiners. “This is an excellent training program for stakeholders and its online access provides trainees more time
Third-Party Preissuance Submissions
Learn more details about the mechanisms available to third parties who wish to submit patents.
USPTO's Prioritized Patent Examination Program
Track One and Prioritized Examination for RCEs