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.
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