The USPTO launched the Automated Pre-Examination Search Pilot Program on 2025 October 20 and it failed. They are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the patent examination workflow. Our advice was to not use it. Others agreed since only 169 applications made use of the program. So 2026 March 23, the USPTO waived the fee. Even...Read More

The USPTO has proposed changes to the examiners’ Performance Appraisal Plan (PAP) with effect on applicants and, to a lesser extent, their patent agents. Nobody is sure how to meet these changes, but we will review the system, the changes, and our suggestions over a few posts: PAP and counts — the mysterious way the...Read More

Consider whether you should change your patent prosecution strategy. There are many changes at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. These include robot examiners, new acceleration programs, changes to the way the examiner corps is evaluated, and many other changes. However, a more subtle change is that the office is more likely not to...Read More