USPTO Evaluates Examination Time Goals
As part of its ongoing commitment to improve and strengthen the patent system, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is reevaluating the examination time goals assigned for examiners to examine a patent application. Significant changes to the examination process, including the increased use of electronic tools; changes in law due to court decisions; growing volume of prior art; progress of technology; and transitions to the Cooperative Patent Classification system and the Enhanced Patent Quality Initiative programs, have caused the USPTO to reassess the examination time goals that were originally assigned over 40 years ago. Additionally, the USPTO has been collecting feedback from the public to ensure that the examination time goals accurately reflect the amount of time needed by examiners to conduct quality examination.
