The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued an interim rule further expanding the availability of prioritized examination (Track One) by increasing the limit on the number of Track One requests that may be accepted in a fiscal year from 12,000 to 15,000. The USPTO’s continued monitoring of the Track One program confirmed that the program could be further expanded to permit more applications to undergo prioritized examination while maintaining the ability to timely examine all prioritized applications.
Track One allows applicants to receive a final disposition on their patent applications within approximately 12 months and grants applications special status with fewer requirements than the current accelerated examination program. More information on Track One is available on the Track One webpage of the USPTO website.