The USPTO announce a pilot program where the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) will expedite an ex parte appeal if appellant withdraws another appeal (e.g., abandons or files a RCE).
The pilot program is available to June 16, 2016 or PTAB expedites 2,000 appeals, whichever occurs first.
Here's the USPTO announcement:
"The PTAB is pleased to announce a new pilot program, beginning on June 19, 2015, that will allow
appellants with multiple ex parte appeals pending before the Patent Trial and
Appeal Board (Board) to expedite review of one appeal in return for withdrawing
another appeal. The Expedited Patent Appeal Pilot will allow appellants having
multiple ex parte appeals currently pending before the Board to have greater
control over the priority with which their appeals are decided and reduce the
backlog of appeals pending before the Board. Appellants wishing to participate
in the pilot program need only make a certification and file a petition to the
Chief Judge under 37 C.F.R. § 41.3. The Office has waived the petition fee and
provided a form-fillable PDF (Form PTO/SB/438) for use in filing the
certification and petition."
For more information refer to the Federal Register Notice and PTAB web page.
Copyright © 2015 Robert Moll. All rights reserved.
