The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has implemented a Post-Prosecution Pilot (P3) Program, which combines effective features from the Pre-Appeal and After-final Consideration Pilot (AFCP 2.0) programs and adds new features.
The P3 program provides for (i) an after final response to be considered by a panel of examiners (Pre-Appeal), (ii) an after final response to include an optional proposed amendment (AFCP 2.0), and (iii) an opportunity for the applicant to make an oral presentation to the panel of examiners (new). The panel decision will be communicated in the form of a brief written summary.
Click here to see the July 11, 2016 Federal Register notice announcing the pilot program.
Posted: July 12, 2016
