The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) released a brief on new pilot programs being introduced with the goal of decreasing the wait time for a ruling on an ex parte appeal by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).
A few highlights of the announcement:
- The creation of the Expedited Patent Appeal Pilot Program, wherein appellants with multiple ex parte appeals may reduce the wait time to review for one appeal in exchange for withdrawing another.
- The goal of this pilot program is to reduce the average wait time from 30 months to 6 months.
- The inception of a new Law Clerk Fellowship Pilot Program.
- The USPTO will soon release additional new initiatives with the goal of reducing the backlog of ex parte appeals.
Read the official announcement of the Expedited Patent Appeal Pilot Program and visit program’s official page to learn more and participate.