Extension of the Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program

The summary of Federal Register Notice 2013-00336 states:

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) implemented a pilot program (Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program) in which an applicant, under certain conditions, can request a twelve- month time period to pay the search fee, the examination fee, any excess claim fees, and the surcharge (for the late submission of the search fee and the examination fee) in a nonprovisional application. The Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program benefits applicants by permitting additional time to determine if patent protection should be sought--at a relatively low cost--and by permitting applicants to focus efforts on commercialization during this period. The Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program benefits the USPTO and the public by adding publications to the body of prior art, and by removing from the USPTO's workload those nonprovisional applications for which applicants later decide not to pursue examination. The USPTO is extending the Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program until December 31, 2013, to better gauge whether the Extended Missing Parts Program offers sufficient benefits to the patent community for it to be made permanent.

For more information, access the Federal Register notice at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-01-10/html/2013-00336.htm .