U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Announces One-Year Extensions of Two Popular Programs
On September 28, 2017, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office announced that both the After-Final Consideration Pilot 2.0 (AFCP 2.0) and Quick Path Information Disclosure (QPIDS) Pilot programs have been extended to September 30, 2018. The AFCP 2.0 Program gives Examiners additional time to consider qualifying submissions filed after a Final Rejection without the need for filing an RCE, while the QPIDS program (which requires the Applicant to file a “conditional” Request for Continued Examination) allows Examiners to consider qualifying Information Disclosure Statements filed after an Issue Fee has been paid. Both programs, when used appropriately, can help reduce the rate of filing of relatively expensive Requests for Continued Examination.