Extension and Modification of the Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is extending the Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program, initiated on July 2, 2020, and previously extended on July 12, 2021, and October 4, 2022. The Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program permits appellants with a docketed ex parte appeal before the Patent Trial and Appeal Bo
| Agency | Commerce Department, Patent and Trademark Office |
|---|---|
| Document type | Notice |
| Published | 2026-05-06 |
| Summary | The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is extending the Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program, initiated on July 2, 2020, and previously extended on July 12, 2021, and October 4, 2022. The Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program permits appellants with a docketed ex parte appeal before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB or Board) to file a petition to expedite the review of the appeal. The Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program previously set a target of reaching a decision on each ex parte appeal within six months from the date the appeal entered the program. Effective in this extension, the Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program will set a target of reaching a decision on each ex parte appeal |
| Document number | 2026-08798 |
| Official record | https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/06/2026-08798/extension-and-modification-of-the-fast-track-appeals-pilot-program |