Publication
U.S. Patent Office Implements COVID-19 Pilot Program for Prioritized Examination
By Jeffrey D. Morton
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has introduced a pilot program to provide prioritized patent examination for patent applications that cover a product or process related to COVID-19. The product or process must be subject to an applicable U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for COVID-19 use.
Under the pilot program, the USPTO will grant qualified requests for prioritized examination without payment of the fees normally required for prioritized examination when an application is a small or micro entity. Importantly, the pilot program will initially be limited to 500 requests. The USPTO has indicated that the goal of prioritized examination is to provide a final disposition (i.e., allowance or refusal) within 12 months from the date the prioritized status was granted.
Specific details on the eligibility for the COVID-19 pilot program are outlined here.
Snell & Wilmer has been actively assisting clients from around the world with COVID-19-related patent matters. For further information, please contact Jeffrey D. Morton.
About Snell & Wilmer
Founded in 1938, Snell & Wilmer is a full-service business law firm with more than 500 attorneys practicing in 17 locations throughout the United States and in Mexico, including Los Angeles, Orange County, Palo Alto and San Diego, California; Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; Denver, Colorado; Washington, D.C.; Boise, Idaho; Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Portland, Oregon; Dallas, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; Seattle, Washington; and Los Cabos, Mexico. The firm represents clients ranging from large, publicly traded corporations to small businesses, individuals and entrepreneurs. For more information, visit swlaw.com.
Contributors
