Patent Law Updates | New Statutes, Regulations and Rules
November 11, 2009
USPTO Expands Pilot Program That Seeks to Enhance Information Exchange between Applicant and Examiner
Enhanced First Action Interview Pilot Program
Release 09-20, 10/1/2009
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) is expanding its First Action Interview Pilot Program in which an applicant is entitled to an interview with the patent examiner prior to the first office action on the merits in a new utility application.
The program expanded to additional technology areas for a six-month period that began on October 1, 2009. The initial pilot program was limited to two computer-related technology areas.
According to the USPTO, the initial six-month pilot program, which began April 28, 2008, has shown that the patent process benefits when interaction between the applicant and the examiner…
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