News Item
Patent Application Exchange Program Ended; Green Technology Pilot Program Extended(1/01/12)
In 2010 we discussed discussed here and here the “patent application backlog reduction stimulus plan” program (also known as “exchange” or “bump and dump”). This program allows an applicant to obtain “special” (accelerated examination) status for one of his or her patent applications filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as long as he or she expressly abandons one of his or her co-pending and unexamined applications (this is the exchange: one application is “bumped” or accelerated while the other is “dumped”). The USPTO announced in the Federal Register here that that this program would not be extended. Accordingly, the program ended on December 31, 2011.
The announcement also stated that a pilot program that accords “special” status to “green” technology patent applications will come to an end on March 30, 2012, or until 500 additional green technologies applications have been accorded special status, whichever occurs earlier. We earlier discussed program here. Readers interested in obtaining special or accelerated examination status for applications for green technology inventions are invited to contact Steinfl (&) Bruno LLP immediately.