What is the purpose of the ‘special’ application status in patent examination?
What is the purpose of the ‘special’ application status in patent examination?
The ‘special’ application status in patent examination serves to expedite the processing and examination of certain patent applications. According to MPEP 708, “Applications which have been made special in accordance with this paragraph will be taken up for examination more quickly than is normally the case and will continue to be treated as special throughout the entire prosecution in the Office.”
This special status is designed to:
- Prioritize applications that meet specific criteria
- Accelerate the examination process for qualifying applications
- Ensure faster resolution for certain types of inventions or applicant situations
The MPEP provides various reasons for granting special status, including age or health of the inventor, environmental quality, energy conservation, and more.
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