The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has proposed rules for the implementation of the Patent Law Treaty (PLT) that will help filers speed up patent filing. The presentation discusses the proposed rules which allow applications to be filed without claims as well as facilitate incorporating prior filings by reference. In addition, a proposed two-month grace period is provided for foreign filing and provisional applications.

1. Speeding It Up at
the USPTO
July 2013
July 23, 2013

2. Speeding Up Filing

3. Speeding Up Filing
• Proposed Rules to Implement Patent Law Treaty
(PLT)- April 11, 2013
– Claim NOT required for the filing date of a nonprovisional
– Filing a nonprovisional application “by reference”
 No specification and drawings
– 2 Month Grace Period- Restore right to prior foreign or
provisional application after expiration of 12 month
deadline (6 month for designs)
 File within 2 months
 Petition (unintentional)
 Fee

4. Speeding It Up at
the USPTO
July 23, 2013
Copyright 2013 Woodard, Emhardt, Moriarty, McNett & Henry LLP