USPTO Seeks Feedback on Patent Quality Initiatives

In a Federal Register notice published on December 9, 2009, the USPTO is seeking feedback on its patent quality initiatives and seeking suggestions on new activities that may improve patent quality.  Specifically, the USPTO wishes to focus on improving the process for obtaining the best prior art, preparation of the initial application, and examination and prosecution of the application.  The USPTO is focused on both methods for improving patent quality and metrics on how to measure that improvement within the context of the existing statutory and regulatory scheme.  One of the existing pilot programs on which the USPTO is seeking feedback in this context is Peer-to-Patent.  If you have participated in Peer-to-Patent as an applicant, patent attorney/agent, or peer reviewer, this is the ideal time in which to share your views of the program.  Please be constructive and specific in your praise or criticism of the program (simply saying "It's great" or "It doesn't work" with no further commentary is not terribly useful).  Comments should be provided electronically and should be sent to patent_quality_comments@uspto.gov.  Comments should include the following information: (1) The name and affiliation of the individual responding; and (2) an indication of whether comments offered represent views of the respondent’s organization or are the respondent’s personal views.  Please note that your comments will be a part of the public record, so you should not include any personal contact information in the comments that you do not wish shared with the public.