New Post-Final Action Review Program

July, 25th, 2016

Categories: Blog, News Tags: patent, USPTO, whipgroup

The USPTO launched the Post-Prosecution Pilot (P3) Program, which seeks to improve upon two other post-final rejection programs including the After Final Consideration Program and the Pre-Appeal Brief Conference Program. P3 provides the benefit of having a panel of examiners – i.e., assistant examiner, primary examiner, supervisor – review the application like in the Pre-Appeal pilot program, but does not require the filing of a Notice of Appeal and associated official fee. It also gives applicants an opportunity to make an oral presentation to the panel and explain the differences between their invention and cited prior art.

In its initial pilot phase, this program will continue for 6-months or 1600 applications. WHIPgroup will be evaluating P3 in the coming months.