The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has announced a key procedural change that applicants should keep in mind when planning utility patent filings and grants.
The USPTO is shortening the average time between a patent’s Issue Notification and its official Issue Date to two weeks. This acceleration, made possible through electronic publication (eGrants) via Patent Center, may reduce the need for last-minute filings such as Quick Path Information Disclosure Statements (QPIDS). This also shortens the timeframe available for filing continuing applications post-issue fee payment.
More information may be found within the USPTO Announcement.
As a consideration for utility patents, applicants are recommended to file any continuing applications before paying the issue fee to maintain co-pendency, as issuance may now occur more quickly than anticipated. Likewise, applicants will need to be prepared for filing an information disclosure statement under the QPIDS program under an accelerated timeline, which may include closer monitoring of prosecution in related applications.
Please contact us if you have questions or would like to discuss your filing strategy in light of these changes.
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Founded in 1983, Brooks Kushman P.C. has built a national reputation as a premier intellectual property and technology law firm. We accomplish this with the understanding that the most effective IP solutions come from putting great minds together – our clients and our own. With offices across the country, we forge strong relationships with corporations, small to medium-sized businesses, and leading universities across the country.
Brooks Kushman counts a number of Fortune 100 Corporations across a variety of industries among its clients. Our attorneys have a deep understanding and broad range of experience in a variety of industries and technologies, including consumer electronics, manufacturing, medical device, computer technology, aerospace, chemicals, biotechnology, and retail. We are also recognized by leading legal publications and rankings, including, Best Lawyers, Law360, Intellectual Asset Management, Managing Intellectual Property, and World Trademark Review. For more information, please visit www.BrooksKushman.com.
