USPTO Seeks Public Comments on Optimum First Action and Total Patent Pendency | Practical Law

USPTO Seeks Public Comments on Optimum First Action and Total Patent Pendency | Practical Law

The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) seeks public comment on optimal patent first action and total pendency target levels.

USPTO Seeks Public Comments on Optimum First Action and Total Patent Pendency

Practical Law Legal Update 7-573-7685 (Approx. 2 pages)

USPTO Seeks Public Comments on Optimum First Action and Total Patent Pendency

by Practical Law Intellectual Property & Technology
Published on 08 Jul 2014 • USA (National/Federal)
The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) seeks public comment on optimal patent first action and total pendency target levels.
On July 8, 2014, the USPTO released a request for comment on optimum first action and total patent pendency. The USPTO will use the targets to plan patent examination staffing levels and other agency resource requirements. The current targets from the USPTO 2010-2015 Strategic Plan are:
  • Ten month average first action pendency (average number of months from the patent application filing date until the date the USPTO mails the first office action).
  • 20 month average total pendency (average number of months from the patent application filing date until the date the application either issues as a patent or goes abandoned).
Comments must be sent by e-mail to [email protected] and must be received on or before the date 60 days after the request is published in the Federal Register.