How does the USPTO handle applications pending for 5 years or more?
The USPTO has specific guidelines for handling applications that have been pending for an extended period. According to MPEP 707.02:
Any application that has been pending five years or more should be carefully studied by the supervisory patent examiner and every effort should be made to terminate its prosecution. In order to accomplish this result, the application is to be considered “special” by the examiner.
This means that applications pending for 5 years or more receive special attention and priority in an effort to bring the examination process to a conclusion. Examiners are instructed to treat these applications as “special” cases, indicating they should be given priority in the examination process.
To learn more: