USPTO Extends After Final Consideration Pilot to Sept. 30, 2012
21-Jun-2012
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WASHINGTON - The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has extended its After Final Consideration Pilot (AFCP) to Sept. 30, 2012. Originally scheduled to end on June 16, 2012, the extension of the AFCP will give more stakeholders the opportunity to have their patent applications given enhanced consideration after a final rejection.
A press release by the USPTO stated that the extension will also enable the USPTO to gather additional data to evaluate the pilot and identify best practices for compact prosecution.
The AFCP is one of the USPTO’s ongoing efforts to increase collaboration between examiners and stakeholders and to encourage compact prosecution. Originally launched on March 25, 2012, the pilot has shown an increase in allowance rates for applications after final rejection.