What are the annual limits for prioritized examination requests at the USPTO?
The USPTO has set annual limits for prioritized examination requests to manage workload and maintain examination quality:
- Overall limit: 12,000 requests per fiscal year
- Small entity limit: 5,000 requests (included in the overall limit)
- Micro entity limit: 2,500 requests (included in the small entity limit)
According to MPEP 708.02(b): ‘The number of granted requests for prioritized examination under this program is limited to a maximum of 12,000 during each fiscal year, and of that amount, 5,000 are reserved for small entities, with 2,500 of these being reserved for micro entities.’
Once these limits are reached, the USPTO will not accept additional requests for prioritized examination until the next fiscal year, unless the limits are modified by a subsequent notice.
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