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Tag Archives: Green Technology Pilot Program

PTO to Terminate its Successful Greentech Patent Program in Favor of Track I (Curiously)

Posted by J. Steven Rutt on Posted in Cleantech; Patent

Some curious end-of-year activity for one government agency: the US PTO announced on December 15, 2011 through the Federal Register that it will extend – but also terminate – the Greentech accelerated examination program. The program was set to expire at the end of December but it will be extended to March 30, 2012. If, however,  they accord 3,500 greentech applications a special status before then, the program will terminate at number 3,500. Currently, the PTO web page statistics show the count is at 2,913. They may or may not hit 3,500. The program previously was supposed to hit 3,000 – but not there yet.

So, this is it !? Irony: the program is being terminated in view of its “success,” according to the PTO. Well, if a program is successful, why terminate….(well, never mind!). Heavy budget ax times may be ahead.

The alternative, according to the PTO, is the new Track I program. While this strategic insight from the US PTO is appreciated, the PTO neglects to warn users about the hefty fee the Track I program costs.

The new patent reform statute also has provisions for priority technologies – time will tell how that is used and if greentech will be a player.

USPTO Website Posts Story of Green Technology Pilot Program Use

Posted by Karl F. Reichenberger on Posted in Patent

The USPTO has posted a story about one company’s Green Technology Pilot Program.

The story reports that Calera, a California company working to provide "green cement" for use in building construction, has fast-tracked twelve patent applications through the Green Technology Pilot Program.

The story was presumably intended to provide a concrete (get it?) example of the successes available using the USPTO’s Green Technology Pilot Program, but updated Pilot Program statistics continue to indicate less than heavy utilization by applicants. The USPTO reports that 1,918 petitions under the Green Technology Pilot Program have been granted to date. This pace indicates that the program will not likely reach its maximum of 3,000 granted petitions prior to the Pilot Program’s planned expiration date on December 31, 2011. 328 patents have been issued under the Pilot Program.

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USPTO’s Green Tech Pilot Program—Less Than Half Of the Available Petition Grants Remain for 2011

Posted by J. Steven Rutt on Posted in Cleantech; Patent

The USPTO’s latest statistics for its Green Tech Pilot Program (dated April 4, 2011) show that 1,595 petitions have now been granted. Also, however, 1,001 have been dismissed and 195 have been denied. Finally, 310 await decision. The USPTO indicates that 250 patents have already issued under the program.

The context of this patenting is that media reports are showing a rise of clean tech venture investing in the first quarter of 2011.

The USPTO Green Tech Pilot Program is slated to cut off once 3,000 petitions have been granted, or on December 31, 2011, unless extended again, so the program is now just past the 50% mark. Based on current trajectories, it seems unlikely that 3,000 petitions would be granted by December 31, 2011.

The USPTO will discuss the program further during a Clean Tech Partnership Meeting to be held on April 27, 2011, from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm, at the USPTO’s Madison Building conference center.
 

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Patent Office Says Green Tech Program Is “Starting to Take Off”

Posted by J. Steven Rutt on Posted in Cleantech; Patent

The USPTO announced yesterday, January 13, 2011, that its Green Tech Program is "starting to take off."  This will be an important development to watch in 2011.

The program, now in its second year, was expanded in May 2010 and again in November 2010 to cover any unexamined application and to extend into 2011.  Since November, 149 new petitions were received at the USPTO.  Nearly 1,000 applications have been "fast tracked" and 156 patents have issued, according to the USPTO.  The program is still capped at 3,000 applications.

One thought: It would be useful if the USPTO were able to list the patent filings and patents which are funneled into the green tech program so the public can review more easily some of the consequences of petitioning to be a green patent. 

USPTO’s Expansion of Green Technologies Pilot Program Broadens Expedited Examination Opportunities

Posted by Karl F. Reichenberger on Posted in Patent

As of November 10, 2010, the USPTO has further expanded the scope of its Pilot Program for expediting the handling of patent applications for environmentally friendly technologies. In particular, the Green Technologies Expedited Examination Pilot Program (Pilot Program) will now include applications filed on or after December 8, 2009. The Pilot Program was previously limited to applications filed before December 8, 2009. The expansion also includes a duration extension until December 31, 2011, rather than the prior December 8, 2010 deadline.

Although the expansion will allow applicants to strategically request expedited examination for newly filed applications, the original 3,000 application limit of the Pilot Program has not been expanded. Those interested in the Pilot Program should file petitions for inclusion as soon as possible.

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Stimulus Needed? Patent Office Releases New Stats on Green Patent Filing Program

Posted by J. Steven Rutt on Posted in Cleantech; Patent

The PTO continues to execute on its Green Patent Pilot Program, recently releasing statistics in a report dated June 28, 2010. However, this program now more than a half year old appears to continue to suffer from insufficient use and needs further adapting to customer needs, based on these new PTO statistics. With the December deadline quickly approaching, time is running out…

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Green Pilot Program Update: USPTO’s Progress on Accelerated Examination for Green Patents

Posted by J. Steven Rutt on Posted in Cleantech

December 8, 2009 marked the advent of the PTO’s Green Technology Pilot Program which sought to expedite the examination of patent applications directed to certain green inventions. Nearly four months later, internal remarks from the new PTO Commissioner, David Kappos, reveal that the PTO has confirmed 450 of 850 patent applications sought in this space since the launch of the pilot program.

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USPTO Announces Expedited Examination of Green Technology Patent Applications

Posted by Bruce Wu on Posted in Patent

On December 7, 2009, the USPTO announced that it will implement a green technology pilot program (Pilot Program) to expedite the examination of patent applications directed to certain green technology inventions. While eligibility is currently limited to applications filed before December 8, 2009, the USPTO has hinted toward expanding the program if successful. We will continue to monitor this program as it progresses into 2010.