USPTO Patent Application Initiatives - After Close of Prosecution

 After Final Consideration Pilot 2.0 (AFCP 2.0)Pre-Appeal ProgramGeneral Interview PracticeQuick Path Information Disclosure Statement (QPIDS)Ombudsman Program
DescriptionAFCP 2.0 authorizes additional time for examiners to search and/or consider responses after final rejection.An avenue to request that a panel of examiners formally review the legal and factual basis of the rejections in their application prior to the filing of an appeal brief.The USPTO encourages examiners to take a proactive approach to examination by reaching out and engaging our stakeholders in an effort to resolve issues and shorten prosecution.QPIDS eliminates the requirement for filing an RCE with an IDS filed after payment of the issue fee in order for the IDS to be considered by the examiner.The Patents Ombudsman Program enhances the USPTO's ability to assist applicants or their representatives with issues that arise during patent application prosecution.
Program Start Date05/201307/2005 05/201204/2010
Currently Active (accepting applications)YesYesYesYesYes
Petition / RequestRequestRequestRequestSubmitted Via EFS-Web as e-petitionRequest
Surcharge / FeeNoNotice of Appeal FeeNoYes - IDS fee $180No
Claim Number Limit(s)NoNoN/ANoN/A
Shortened Prosecution TimeN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Special StatusN/ANoN/AN/AN/A
Examination Support DocumentNoNoN/ANoN/A
Shortened / Non- extendable Response TimesNoNoN/ANoN/A
Interview RequiredNoNoYesNoN/A
Continuation Applications & RCEs Eligible for ProgramN/AYesYesN/AYes
Duration or Application LimitExpiration Extended to 9/30/19Unlimited, no expirationNoExpiration Extended to 9/30/18Unlimited, no expiration
Status of ProgramPilotPilotPermanentPilotPermanent