By Cyber Era Correspondent
On May 8, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced the COVID-19 Prioritized Examination Pilot Programme, permitting COVID-19-related applications filed by small and micro entities to be put on a fast track for patent examination. Today, the USPTO launched a related webpage, where you can find additional resources and information pertinent to the programme.
As outlined in the official notice, up to 500 qualifying patent applications will be accepted for prioritized examination and exempted from prioritized examination fees. The USPTO will endeavor to reach final disposition of applications in this programme within six months if applicants respond promptly to communications from the USPTO.
For questions regarding the COVID-19 Fast Track Programme, please contact Robert Clarke at 571-272-7735 or via email at covid19PrioritizedExamPilot@uspto.gov. For questions about EFS-Web or the PAIR system, please contact the Patent Electronic Business Center at 866-217-9197.
Note: The programme’s effective date is May 14, 2020, not July 13 as erroneously stated in the original Federal Register notice.
