PTO starts Expedited Patent Appeal Pilot

Beginning from June 19, 2015, the PTO will begin a Patent Appeal Pilot program that will allow applicants to receive special status for an ex parte appeal if they withdraw another pending appeal.

The details of this pilot program can be found here.

The PTO’s goal for handling an application in which a petition to make an appeal special under the Expedited Patent Appeal Pilot is filed is as follows: (1) Rendering a decision on the petition to make the appeal special no later than two (2) months from the filing date of the petition; and (2) rendering a decision on the appeal no later than four (4) months from the date a petition to make an appeal special under the Expedited Patent Appeal Pilot is granted.

This compares with current wait of more than 30 months to get an appeal decision.