USPTO Retreats from Patent Petition Rule Overhaul Proposal
Published Date: 10/17/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The USPTO is pulling back a proposed rule that would have changed how patent challenges are handled by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. This affects inventors, companies, and lawyers who deal with patent reviews, as the changes around multiple petitions and settlements won’t happen now. No new fees or deadlines are coming from this, but stay tuned for future updates!
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
USPTO Withdraws PTAB Rule Changes
On October 17, 2025, the USPTO withdrew the proposed rule published April 19, 2024 (89 FR 28693) that would have revised rules for inter partes review (IPR) and post-grant review (PGR) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). The proposed changes involving serial petitions, parallel petitions, petitions implicating the same or substantially the same art or arguments, a separate briefing process for discretionary institution arguments, and aligned settlement/termination procedures will not move forward at this time.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-19613, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) Actions
The USPTO is asking for public feedback on its paperwork rules for the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). This helps make sure the forms are easy to use and don’t waste anyone’s time. If you’re involved in trademarks, now’s your chance to comment before October 26, 2026, with no new fees or big changes planned.
2026-19576, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Generic Clearance for Information Pertaining to Events, Registrations, and Programs
The USPTO is asking for public feedback on a new plan to simplify how they collect info for events, registrations, and programs they run. This change will make it easier and faster to get approval for forms used at these events, affecting anyone who attends or participates. Comments are open until November 23, 2026, with no new costs expected.
2026-17525, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Substantive Submissions Made During the Prosecution of the Trademark Application
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (hereafter "USPTO" or "Agency"), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments on the extension and revision of an existing information collection: 0651-0054 (Substantive Submissions Made During the Prosecution of the Trademark Application). The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comments preceding submission of the information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
2026-17524, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Appeals
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (hereafter "USPTO" or "Agency") will submit the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, on or after the date of publication of this notice. The USPTO invites comments on the information collection renewal of 0651-0063, which helps the USPTO assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the reporting burden to the public. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on April 20, 2026, during a 60-day comment period (91 FR 20986). This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.
2026-16744, Request for Comments on Community Outreach Office Locations in the Southwest States
The USPTO wants your ideas on where to open new community outreach offices in the Southwest states like Arizona and Texas. These offices will help inventors, small businesses, and students get better support with patents. Share your thoughts by September 16, 2026, so the USPTO can pick the best spots and keep innovation booming without extra costs to you!
2026-16315, Administrative Updates to the General Requirements Bulletin for Admission to the Examination for Registration To Practice in Patent Cases Before the United States Patent and Trademark Office
Starting August 11, 2026, the USPTO is upgrading Biomedical Science degrees from Category B to Category A for patent bar eligibility. This means more people with this degree can now take the patent exam and become patent practitioners. No extra fees or delays—just a smoother path for those with the right science background to join the patent world!
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-19580, Revision to Rules of Practice Before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board
The USPTO wants to change the rules for how patent challenges happen before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. These updates affect inventors, companies, and lawyers by making the review process clearer and possibly faster. If you want to share your thoughts, you need to comment by November 17, 2025—so don’t wait!
Next: 2025-19608, Implementation of the Executive Order Entitled “Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting To Unleash American Energy”
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is proposing to add expiration dates to some energy rules to make sure they stay useful and don’t cause unnecessary costs. This affects energy companies and the public by encouraging smarter, cost-effective regulations. Comments on these changes are due by November 20, 2025, helping shape a more efficient energy future.