Summary of U.S. Patent Office Initiatives and Pilot Programs

1. Kenneth Horton
Kirton|McConkie
1800 Eagle Gate Tower
60 East South Temple
P.O. Box 45120
Salt Lake City, UT 84145-0120
Main: (801) 328-3600
Direct: (801) 321-4897
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khorton@kmclaw.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/HortonIP
THE IP LEGALMINUTE
JANUARY 2014: USPTO INITIATIVES
As we know, the PTO is constantly adding, dropping, and modifying the various initiatives (i.e., PPH) designed
to speed up prosecution and improve the quality of thepatents it issues. At times, it can be quite difficult to
track and understand the various initiatives. The PTO made it easier to follow them by publishing a chart
(reproduced
below)
containing
a
timeline
of
the
various
initiatives
at
http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/patapp-initiatives-timeline.jsp.The chart is a nice summary about
where each initiative fits within the prosecution process. As well, the chart is interactive so the user can drill
down to detailed descriptions about each initiative. Keep this chart (and its embedded links) as a handy
reference tool in your practices.