[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 20 (Monday, February 1, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 5041]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-2033]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Patent and Trademark Office

[Docket No.: PTO-P-2010-0003]


Extension of the Patent Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus 
Plan

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) 
published a notice in the Federal Register providing an additional 
temporary basis (the Patent Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus 
Plan) under which a small entity applicant may have an application 
accorded special status for examination if the applicant expressly 
abandons another copending unexamined application. The Patent 
Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan allows small entity 
applicants having multiple applications currently pending before the 
USPTO to have greater control over the priority with which their 
applications are examined while also stimulating a reduction of the 
backlog of unexamined patent applications pending before the USPTO. The 
USPTO is extending Patent Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan 
until June 30, 2010.

DATES: Effective Date: February 1, 2010. The Patent Application Backlog 
Reduction Stimulus Plan became effective on November 27, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pinchus M. Laufer, Office of the 
Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy, by telephone at 571-
272-7726; or via e-mail addressed to Pinchus.Laufer@uspto.gov; or by 
mail addressed to: Box Comments Patents, Commissioner for Patents, P.O. 
Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USPTO published a notice in the Federal 
Register providing an additional temporary basis (the Patent 
Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan) under which a small entity 
applicant may have an application accorded special status for 
examination if the applicant expressly abandons another copending 
unexamined application. See Patent Application Backlog Reduction 
Stimulus Program, 74 FR 62285 (Nov. 27, 2009), 1349 Off. Gaz. Pat. Off. 
304 (Dec. 22, 2009) (notice). The Patent Application Backlog Reduction 
Stimulus Plan allows small entity applicants having multiple 
applications currently pending before the USPTO to have greater control 
over the priority with which their applications are examined while also 
stimulating a reduction of the backlog of unexamined patent 
applications pending before the USPTO. The USPTO indicated that the 
program would last for a period ending on February 28, 2010, but may be 
extended for an additional time period thereafter. See Patent 
Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Program, 74 FR at 62287, 1349 
Off. Gaz. Pat. Off. at 306.
    The USPTO is extending Patent Application Backlog Reduction 
Stimulus Plan until June 30, 2010. The USPTO may further extend the 
procedures under Patent Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan to 
all applicants (on either a temporary or permanent basis), or may also 
discontinue the procedures after June 30, 2010, depending upon the 
results of the Patent Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan. For 
a petition under 37 CFR 1.102 to be granted under the Patent 
Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan (unless the Patent 
Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan is extended by a subsequent 
notice), the petition under 37 CFR 1.102 and the letter of express 
abandonment and its accompanying statement must be filed on or before 
June 30, 2010.

    Dated: January 26, 2010.
David J. Kappos,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2010-2033 Filed 1-29-10; 8:45 am]
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