USPTO Ends Expedited Review for Design Patent Applications
Published Date: 8/14/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting April 17, 2025, the USPTO is officially ending the fast-track option for design patent applications. This change affects anyone applying for design patents, aiming to speed up the overall process and reduce mistakes with special fee discounts. While you won’t be able to rush your design patent anymore, this move helps keep the system fair and efficient for everyone.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
End of Fast-Track Design Patents
Starting April 17, 2025, the USPTO is removing the expedited (fast-track) examination option for design patent applications. If you apply for a design patent, you will no longer be able to pay or request to rush examination after that date.
Reduced Backlog of Design Applications
The USPTO removed the expedited-examination regulations (effective April 17, 2025) to help reduce the backlog of unexamined design applications. The agency says this removal will benefit all design patent applicants by lowering pendency of unexamined applications.
Action on Micro-Entity Certifications
The removal of the expedited examination provisions is said to facilitate USPTO efforts to address erroneous micro entity certifications and to mitigate threats to the intellectual property system. If you claim micro-entity status for fee discounts, the agency may use this change to pursue issues with incorrect certifications.
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