USPTO Seeks Comments on Law School Patent Clinic Certification Form
Published Date: 4/7/2026
Notice
Summary
The USPTO is asking for public feedback on renewing a form that helps law school clinics get certified to assist with patent and trademark cases. This update keeps the process smooth and reduces paperwork for students and schools. Comments are open until May 7, 2026, so anyone involved should speak up soon—no extra fees or big changes, just a chance to keep things running well.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Law Students Gain Real-World Patent Experience
If you are a law student, the USPTO Law School Clinic Certification Program lets you practice patent or trademark law before the USPTO under the direct supervision of an approved faculty clinic supervisor. The program supports clinics at 74 law schools and lets clinics provide pro bono legal services to clients who qualify for help.
Paperwork Time and Small Postage Cost for Clinics
Law schools, faculty, and students who participate must submit applications, semi‑annual reports, and biennial renewals. The USPTO estimates 951 annual respondents, 1,025 annual responses, each response taking about 0.5 to 30 hours, for a total estimated 1,330 burden hours annually, and an estimated postage cost of $12.25 per mailed submission (total non‑hour cost $61).
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-08798 — Extension and Modification of the Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program
The USPTO is extending its Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program until May 6, 2028, letting inventors speed up their patent appeal reviews. Now, decisions will come even faster—within four months instead of six! This helps inventors get answers quicker without changing fees, making the patent process smoother and snappier.
2026-08101 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; DOCX Submission Requirements
The USPTO is asking for public comments on updating their rules about submitting patent applications in DOCX format. If your patent application isn’t in DOCX, you might have to pay a fee starting from January 2024. Comments are open until June 26, 2026, so now’s the time to speak up if you’re affected!
2026-07831 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Secrecy and License To Export
The USPTO is asking for your thoughts on renewing a form that helps keep some patent info secret for national security and controls exporting licenses. This affects inventors and businesses dealing with sensitive tech, aiming to keep paperwork light and clear. You’ve got until May 22, 2026, to share your comments—no fees, just your voice!
2026-07442 — Termination of the Fast-Track for COVID-19-Related Appeals Pilot Program
The USPTO is ending its Fast-Track program for COVID-19-related patent appeals as of April 16, 2026. This program, which sped up reviews for COVID-19 inventions without fees, wasn’t used much—only one petition was granted. Now, the USPTO will focus on speeding up all patent appeals instead, with no extra costs or changes for most inventors.
2026-06903 — PCT Informed Examination Request Pilot Program
Starting April 9, 2026, the USPTO will test a new program where some patent applicants must decide early if they want to move forward, delay, or drop their patent based on international review results. This helps speed up patent processing and cut down on waiting times. If you’re picked, you’ll need to respond quickly or risk losing your application.
2026-05564 — Required Use by Foreign Applicants and Patent Owners of a Patent Practitioner
Starting July 20, 2026, anyone outside the U.S. applying for or owning a U.S. patent must work with a registered patent expert. This change makes the U.S. rules match other countries, helps the Patent Office run smoother, and fights fraud better. If you’re a foreign inventor or patent owner, get ready to team up with a pro to keep your patent game strong!
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-06725 — Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) wants your feedback on their plan to collect info from the public. This helps make sure the questions they ask are useful and not too much work. If you have thoughts, send them by May 7, 2026, so CMS can keep things clear and easy without wasting time or money.
Next: 2026-06728 — World Trade Center Health Program; Petitions 029, 034, 035, and 062-Hepatic Steatosis; Finding of Insufficient Evidence
The World Trade Center Health Program reviewed requests to add fatty liver disease (hepatic steatosis) to its list of covered health conditions but found there isn’t enough proof to do so right now. This means people affected by 9/11 won’t see changes to their benefits related to this condition at this time. The decision was made official on April 7, 2026, with no new costs or coverage changes coming soon.