Project Exchange - Patent Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan (terminated as of December 31, 2011)

On November 27, 2009, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) implemented a temporary procedure under which a small entity applicant may have an application accorded special status for examination if the applicant expressly abandons another copending unexamined application. The USPTO indicated that the plan would last for the period ending on February 28, 2010, but may be extended for an additional time period thereafter. Subsequently, the USPTO expanded the plan to eliminate the small entity requirement and further extended its duration to expire at the earlier of December 31, 2010, or the date that 10,000 applications have been accorded special status under this plan. The USPTO further extended the plan to expire at the earlier of December 31, 2011, or the date that 10,000 applications have been accorded special status under this plan.

The Patent Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan allowed applicants having multiple applications currently pending before the USPTO to have greater control over the priority with which their applications are examined while also stimulating a reduction of the backlog of unexamined patent applications pending before the USPTO. Filings under the plan reached a peak in late 2010 and have since steadily decreased. Accordingly, as applicants desiring the benefits of this plan have taken advantage of its provisions, the Patent Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan has run its course and is terminated as of 12/31/11.

Federal Register Notices

The Sunset of the Patent Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan and a Limited Extension of the Green Technology Pilot Program notice was signed December 7, 2011, and published on December 15, 2011, at 76 Fed. Reg. 77979 [PDF].

The Extension of the Patent Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan notice was signed November 16, 2010, and published on November 22, 2010, at 75 Fed. Reg. 71072 [PDF].

The Expansion and Extension of the Patent Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan notice was signed June 18, 2010, and published on June 24, 2010, at 75 Fed. Reg. 36063 [PDF].

The Extension of the Patent Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan notice was signed January 26, 2010, and published on February 1, 2010, at 75 Fed. Reg. 5041 [PDF].

The Patent Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan notice was signed November 6, 2009, and published on November 27, 2009, at 74 Fed. Reg. 62285 [PDF].

Conditions

Conditions for being accorded special status for examination under Project Exchange/Patent Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan are available here [PDF].

Statistics

The Project Exchange Report Summary provides statistics, including the number of applications accorded special status for examination under the Patent Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan through January 2, 2012.

Press Release

A press release titled "USPTO Extends Deadline to Participate in Green Technology Pilot Program," from December 15, 2011, is available here.

A press release titled "USPTO Extends Deadline for Patent Application Exchange Program by One Year," from November 22, 2010, is available here.

A press release titled "USPTO Opens Application Exchange Program to All Applicants to Reduce Patent Backlog," from May 17, 2010, is available here.

A press release titled "USPTO Pilots Program to Accelerate the Patent Process for Small Entity Inventors," from November 6, 2009, when eligibility was limited to small entity applicants, is available here.

Contact

RE: EFS-Web or PAIR system - contact the Patent Electronic Business Center at 866-217-9197.

RE: a specific petition - contact the Office of Petitions at 571-272-3282.

RE: The Patent Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan Pilot Program Notice - contact the Office of Patent Legal Administration at 571-272-7701 or e-mail PatentPractice@uspto.gov.

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