WASHINGTON—To incentivize more innovation from communities all across America, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced the Council for Inclusive Innovation (CI2) First-Time Filer Expedited Examination Pilot Program. The new initiative benefits individuals or small businesses qualifying as a “micro entity“ who are first-time filers for patent rights, including those from groups that are underrepresented in the innovation space, by providing expedited initial feedback from the agency on their application, also known as “first office action.” Read the full Federal Register Notice announcing the pilot program.
“This new initiative is another way we are working through our Council for Inclusive Innovation to lift independent inventors and small business owners—including those from underrepresented communities—who are new to the patent process and provide them with resources and assistance they need to protect patentable innovations,” said Kathi Vidal, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO. “By accelerating the examination process, it is our hope that expedited feedback from the agency’s initial review of the application will allow them to make key business decisions at an earlier stage as we work together to bring more innovation to impact.”Read more