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IP Newsletter (November 2015)

Author: Willson Josey
by Willson Josey
Posted: Jan 12, 2016

The USPTO recently announced that the After Final Consideration Pilot Program 2.0 ("AFCP 2.0") has been extended, for an additional year, through September 30, 2016. Prior to the AFCP 2.0, an applicant did not have any right to unrestricted further prosecution after a final rejection. Accordingly, an applicant planning to further prosecute an application after a final rejection was required to file a Request for Continued Examination (RCE) and pay a required fee of up to $1,700. However, AFCP 2.0 provides the applicant with another chance to respond after a final rejection to potentially attain allowance without having to file an RCE. In effect, AFCP 2.0 authorizes additional time for examiners to search and or consider responses after the final rejection, as well as schedule and conduct an interview with the applicant to discuss the results of their search and consideration. Under this program, the applicant benefits from the "additional search and consideration afforded by the pilot, even when the results do not lead to allowance."1

To be eligible for consideration under AFCP 2.0, the following requirements must

be met:

  1. The application must be a utility, plant, or design application filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) or an international application that has entered the national stage in compliance with 35 U.S.C. 111(a)
  2. A response to the final rejection must be filed, under 37 CFR §1.116, which includes:

a. A request for consideration under the pilot (Form PTO/SB/434).

b. An amendment to at least one independent claim that does not broaden the scope of the independent claim in any aspect. Please note that, if the application includes more than one independent claim, only one must be amended to meet this requirement.

3.The applicant must be willing and available to participate in an interview requested by the examiner concerning the response.

Similar to the AFCP, even if the requirements above are met, the examiner may deny an AFCP 2.0 request under his or her "professional judgment"5 if he or she decides the response cannot be fully considered under the program. In making this determination, the examiner may consider whether an additional search is needed and, if so, whether it can be completed within the allotted period of time.

Similar to the AFCP, even if the requirements above are met, the examiner may deny an AFCP 2.0 request under his or her "professional judgment"5 if he or she decides the response cannot be fully considered under the program.

About the Author

Patent Lawyers at Farjami & Farjami Llp are always ready to provide valuable assistance to protect your interests. For more details visit us at http://www.farjami.com/

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Author: Willson Josey

Willson Josey

Member since: Oct 27, 2015
Published articles: 3

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