USPTO Seeks Input on Free Patent Help Program Renewal
Published Date: 2/18/2026
Notice
Summary
The USPTO is asking for your thoughts on renewing a form that helps support free legal help for inventors and small businesses dealing with patents. This update won’t cost you money but aims to keep the process smooth and easy. If you want to share your ideas, make sure to comment by March 20, 2026!
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Renewal Supports Free Patent Help
You are an under‑resourced inventor or small business: the USPTO is renewing an information collection that helps support patent pro bono programs and a PTAB national clearinghouse that match inventors with volunteer patent lawyers across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The collection covers forms USPTO/550 and USPTO/552, involves about 22 respondents and 85 responses per year, takes about 1.75 hours (105 minutes) per response, and the agency estimates $0 in non‑hourly costs; comments are due by March 20, 2026.
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: 2026-03202, Stainless Steel Flanges From India: Preliminary Results and Rescission, in Part, of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023-2024
The U.S. Department of Commerce found that some Indian companies sold stainless steel flanges in the U.S. at unfairly low prices from October 2023 to September 2024. They’re stopping the review for two companies but continuing with the rest. This could mean changes in import duties soon, affecting prices and trade starting February 18, 2026.
Next: 2026-03204, Change in Bank Control Notices; Acquisitions of Shares of a Bank or Bank Holding Company
Some folks want to team up and buy shares in a bank or bank holding company, and the Federal Reserve is checking it out to make sure everything’s fair and safe. If you want to share your thoughts, you’ve got until March 5, 2026, to speak up. This process helps keep banks steady and protects everyone’s money.