Skip to main content
Notice2026-08798

Extension and Modification of the Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program

Primary source

Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.

Published
May 6, 2026

Issuing agencies

Commerce DepartmentPatent and Trademark Office

Abstract

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 within four months from the date the appeal enters the program.

Indexed from Federal Register on May 6, 2026.

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.