FACT: It is an average of 44 months (almost 4 years) before you, the inventor, receive a First Office Action on the Merits of your patent application in Technology Center 2100 (Computer Architecture, Software, and Information Security).
FACT: If you participate in Peer-to-Patent (www.peertopatent.org) you could have a First Office Action on the Merits for that same application in only 23 months, and as little as 7 months if you opt for early publication.
That's potentially 3 years faster and at no additional cost to you the inventor! What else might you invent with 3 years saved? How much would your business benefit from help finding the prior art to make your application the best it can be?
This pilot program runs only through June 2008 and is limited to 250 applications with special priority being given to inventors with fewer than 25 patents.
Join already-participating companies such as CA, GE, HP, IBM, Microsoft, Red Hat and other small inventors in this historic initiative to open up the patent examination process for public submission of prior art and commentary.
Applicants interested in participating in the Peer-to-Patent pilot (http://dotank.nyls.edu/communitypatent/signup.htm) should first file a patent application with the USPTO. The patent application needs to be within Technology Center 2100 subject matter (covering computer architecture, software, and information security) in order to be eligible for the Peer-to-Patent pilot (the USPTO will assist with determining eligibility). Applicants then submit a signed "Applicant's Consent to Third-Party Comments in Published Applications and Consent to Pilot Participation" form available on the USPTO website at:
http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/peerpriorartpilot/consent.pdf
Mail the completed form and documents to:
Mail Stop Peer Pilot
Commissioner for Patents
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
OR email a scanned and signed copy of the completed consent form to: [email protected].
Questions? Email [email protected] or visit Peer-to-Patent at http://www.peertopatent.org.
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