USPTO recently released the latest [Climate Change Mitigation Pilot Program] (Climate Change Mitigation Pilot Program). Accelerated examination of patent applications for inventions that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Under this plan, eligible invention patent applications will be examined in advance before the USPTO issues the first office action, that is, priority examination will be granted. Applicants do not need to pay additional official fees, nor do they have to meet other application conditions under the accelerated examination scheme.
This plan of USPTO will end on June 5, 2023, and plans to accept 1,000 cases.
Application conditions
01 The claim scope of the invention patent application includes at least one technology that mitigates climate change by reducing greenhouse gases;
02 Non-provisional application and non-continuing application; (Non-continuing original utility nonprovisional applications)
03 Formal applications claiming only 1 priority or designating entry into the US national phase under Section 35 USC 120, 121, 365(c) or 386(c) of the US Patent Law
04 Patent application or entry into the US national phase must be submitted electronically through the [Patent Center] (Patent Center), and the description, Claim, description drawings and abstracts must be submitted in DOCX format
05 For an application entering the US national phase under 35 USC 371, a special examination request (petition to make special) must be filed within 30 days from the filing date, or within 30 days of entering the US national phase. There is no additional fee for this request.
06 Patent applicants participating in this program must attach the PTO/SB/457 form, including the request and the documents that must be declared. This form must be submitted electronically through the [Patent Center].
07 The number of applications for this special request submitted by any inventor or co-inventor shall not exceed 5.
