[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 185 (Friday, September 23, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 59050-59055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-24467]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office

37 CFR Part 1

[Docket No.: PTO-P-2011-0039]
RIN 0651-AC62


Changes To Implement the Prioritized Examination Track (Track I) 
of the Enhanced Examination Timing Control Procedures Under the Leahy-
Smith America Invents Act

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: On April 4, 2011, the United States Patent and Trademark 
Office (Office) published a final rule that revised the rules of 
practice in patent cases to implement a procedure under which 
applicants may request prioritized examination at the time of filing of 
an application upon payment of appropriate fees and compliance with 
certain requirements (Track I final rule). The prioritized examination 
procedure is the first track (Track I) of a 3-Track examination process 
designed to provide applicants with greater control over when their 
utility and plant applications are examined and to promote greater 
efficiency in the patent examination process. The Office subsequently 
published a final rule on April 29, 2011, indicating that the effective 
date of the Track I final rule was delayed until further notice due to 
funding limitations. The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act includes 
provisions for prioritized examination that emulate the requirements of 
the Office's Track I final rule, with revised fee amounts for 
prioritized examination (including a small entity discount) and a 
provision that addresses the funding limitations that required a delay 
in the implementation of the Track I final rule. This final rule 
implements the prioritized examination provisions of section 11(h) of 
the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act.

DATES: Effective Date: The changes in this final rule are effective on 
September 26, 2011. The final rule published at 76 FR 18399-18407 on 
April 4, 2011, is withdrawn effective September 23, 2011.
    Applicability Date: A request for prioritized examination may be 
submitted with any original utility or plant application filed on or 
after September 26, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By telephone to Eugenia A. Jones, at 
(571) 272-7727, Kathleen Kahler Fonda, at (571) 272-7754, or Michael T. 
Cygan, at (571) 272-7700; or by mail addressed to: United States Patent 
and Trademark Office, Mail Stop Comments--Patents, Commissioner for 
Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450, marked to the 
attention of Eugenia A. Jones or Kathleen Kahler Fonda or Michael T. 
Cygan.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In June 2010, the Office requested comments 
from the public on a proposal to provide applicants with greater 
control over when their original utility or plant applications are 
examined and promote work sharing between intellectual property offices 
(3-Track). See Enhanced Examination Timing Control Initiative; Notice 
of Public Meeting, 75 FR 31763 (June 4, 2010). Specifically, the Office 
proposed to implement procedures under which an applicant would be able 
to: (1) Request prioritized examination of an original utility or plant 
nonprovisional application (Track I); (2) request a delay in docketing 
the application for examination, for an original utility or plant 
application filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a), by filing a request for delay 
in payment of the search fee, the examination fee, the

[[Page 59051]]

claims fees, and the surcharge (if appropriate) for a maximum period 
not to exceed thirty months (Track III); or (3) obtain processing under 
the current examination procedure (Track II) by not requesting either 
Track I or Track III processing.
    In February 2011, the Office published a notice of proposed rule 
making to set forth the proposed procedure for prioritized examination 
and to seek public comments on the proposed procedure. See Changes to 
Implement the Prioritized Examination Track (Track I) of the Enhanced 
Examination Timing Control Procedures, 76 FR 6369 (Feb. 4, 2011). Since 
the majority of the public comments supported the optional prioritized 
examination procedure, on April 4, 2011, the Office published a final 
rule that revised the rules of practice in patent cases to implement a 
procedure under which applicants may request prioritized examination at 
the time of filing of an application upon payment of appropriate fees 
and compliance with certain requirements (Track I final rule). See 
Changes to Implement the Prioritized Examination Track (Track I) of the 
Enhanced Examination Timing Control Procedures, 76 FR 18399 (Apr. 4, 
2011). The Office set a goal for the prioritized examination procedure 
of providing a final disposition within twelve months of prioritized 
status being granted. See Changes to Implement the Prioritized 
Examination Track (Track I) of the Enhanced Examination Timing Control 
Procedures, 76 FR at 18401.
    The Office, however, found it necessary to revise its patent 
examiner hiring plan for the remainder of fiscal year 2011 due to 
funding limitations. The revised hiring plan for fiscal year 2011 did 
not permit the Office to hire a sufficient number of new examiners for 
the Office to be able to meet the twelve-month pendency goal in 
prioritized examination applications without impacting the examination 
of non-prioritized applications. Therefore, the Office published a 
subsequent final rule delaying the effective date of the Track I final 
rule until further notice. See Changes to Implement the Prioritized 
Examination Track (Track I) of the Enhanced Examination Timing Control 
Procedures, 76 FR 23876 (Apr. 29, 2011).
    After the Office published the final rule delaying the effective 
date of Track I, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act was enacted into 
law. The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act includes provisions for 
prioritized examination that emulate the requirements of the Office's 
Track I final rule, with revised fee amounts for prioritized 
examination (including a small entity discount). Specifically, section 
11(h) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act provides that a fee of 
$4,800 shall be established for filing a request for prioritized 
examination of a nonprovisional application for an original utility or 
plant patent; that this fee is in addition to the filing, search, 
examination, processing, and publication fees, as well as any 
applicable excess claims or application size fees; and that this $4,800 
fee is reduced by fifty percent for small entities under 35 U.S.C. 
41(h)(1). Section 11(h) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act also 
provides that the USPTO may by regulation prescribe conditions for 
acceptance of a request for prioritized examination, as well as limit 
the number of filings for prioritized examination that may be accepted. 
Section 11(h) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act further provides 
that until such regulations are prescribed, no application for which 
prioritized examination is requested may contain or be amended to 
contain more than four independent claims or more than thirty total 
claims, and that the Office may not accept in any fiscal year more than 
10,000 requests for prioritized examination. Finally, Section 11(h) 
provides that the prioritized examination provisions are effective ten 
days after enactment of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (i.e., on 
September 26, 2011). This final rule implements the prioritized 
examination provisions of section 11(h) of the Leahy-Smith America 
Invents Act.
    Under prioritized examination, an application will be accorded 
special status and placed on the examiner's special docket throughout 
its entire course of prosecution before the examiner until a final 
disposition is reached in the application. The goal for handling 
applications under prioritized examination is to on average provide a 
final disposition within twelve months of prioritized status being 
granted. The final disposition for the twelve-month goal means that 
within twelve months from the date prioritized status has been granted 
that one of the following occur: (1) Mailing of a notice of allowance; 
(2) mailing of a final Office action; (3) filing of a notice of appeal; 
(4) completion of examination as defined in 37 CFR 41.102; (5) filing 
of a request for continued examination; or (6) abandonment of the 
application. An application under prioritized examination, however, 
would not be accorded special status throughout its entire course of 
appeal or interference before the BPAI, or after the filing of a 
request for continued examination.
    The time periods set for reply in Office actions for applications 
in Track I will be the same as set forth in section 710.02(b) of the 
Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) (8th ed. 2001) (Rev. 8, 
July 2010). This is a distinction between Track I and the Accelerated 
Examination program, where the time period for reply to Office actions 
is one month (or at least thirty days) with no extensions under 37 CFR 
1.136(a) being permitted. Where, however, an applicant files a petition 
for an extension of time to file a reply or a request for a suspension 
of action, the prioritized examination of the application will be 
terminated. In addition, filing an amendment to the application which 
results in more than four independent claims, more than thirty total 
claims, or a multiple dependent claim will terminate the prioritized 
examination. Upon termination of prioritized examination, the 
application will be removed from the examiner's special docket and 
placed on the examiner's regular docket in accordance with its stage of 
prosecution. As the termination of prioritized examination does not 
cause the prioritized examination fee to have been paid by mistake or 
in an amount in excess of that required, the termination of prioritized 
examination will not entitle the applicant to a refund of the 
prioritized examination fee. See 35 U.S.C. 42(d) and Sec.  1.26(a) 
(permits refunds only for fees ``paid by mistake or any amount paid in 
excess of that required'').
    As discussed previously, the submission of an amendment resulting 
in more than four independent claims or more than thirty total claims 
is not prohibited, but simply terminates the prioritized examination. 
Thus, upon mailing of a final rejection (at which point prioritized 
examination is terminated), applicants may amend the claims to place 
them in independent form where dependent claims were found allowable, 
or add new claims, subject only to the limitations applicable to any 
application under final rejection. See Sec.  1.116. Similarly, upon 
mailing of a notice of allowance, applicants may submit amendments to 
the claims, again subject only to the limitations applicable to any 
application that has been allowed. See Sec.  1.312.
    To maximize the benefit of prioritized examination, applicants 
should consider one or more of the following: (1) Acquiring a good 
knowledge of the state of the prior art to be able to file the 
application with a clear specification having a complete schedule of 
claims

[[Page 59052]]

from the broadest to which the applicant believes he is entitled in 
view of the prior art to the narrowest which the applicant is willing 
to accept; (2) submitting an application in condition for examination; 
(3) filing replies that are completely responsive to an Office action 
and within the shortened statutory period for reply set in the Office 
action; and (4) being prepared to conduct interviews with the examiner. 
The phrase ``in condition for examination'' in this context means the 
same as it does with respect to the current Accelerated Examination 
program, which is discussed at MPEP Sec.  708.02(a) (subsection 
VIII.C).
    The Office intends to monitor the prioritized examination program 
carefully. As the Office gains experience with prioritized examination 
as a result of the initial implementation, it may reevaluate the annual 
numerical cap of 10,000 prioritized examination applications. Due to 
the need to limit the number of applications in the prioritized 
examination program in its initial stages, applications entering the 
national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371 are not eligible. However, an 
applicant who has filed an international application may participate in 
the prioritized examination program by filing a by-pass continuation 
under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) rather than entering the national stage under 35 
U.S.C. 371. The Office may reconsider the exclusion of applications 
entering the national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371 at a future date. The 
Office may also consider whether there is a need to limit the number of 
requests for prioritized examination that may be filed in each 
Technology Center or by any given applicant. Statistical findings about 
prioritized examination, including statistics concerning the Office's 
ability to meet its stated goals for the program, will be made 
available to the public on the Office's Internet Web site.
    The requirements for requesting prioritized examination are 
summarized below. A patent application may be granted prioritized 
examination status under the following conditions:
    (1) The application must be an original utility or plant 
nonprovisional application filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) on or after 
September 26, 2011, the new effective date of the Track I final rule. 
The procedure for prioritized examination does not apply to 
international applications, design applications, reissue applications, 
provisional applications, and reexamination proceedings. Applicants may 
request prioritized examination for a continuing application (e.g., a 
continuation or divisional application). However, a continuing 
application will not automatically be given prioritized examination 
status based on the request filed in the parent application. Each 
application (including each continuing application) must, on its own, 
meet all requirements for prioritized examination under 37 CFR 
1.102(e).
    (2) The application must be complete under 37 CFR 1.51(b) with any 
excess claims fees paid on filing, and the application must be filed 
via the Office's electronic filing system (EFS-Web) if it is a utility 
application. Thus, the application must be filed with an oath or 
declaration under 37 CFR 1.63, the basic filing fee, the search fee, 
the examination fee, any excess claims fees, and any application size 
fee.
    (3) The application must contain no more than four independent 
claims and no more than thirty total claims. In addition, the 
application must not contain any multiple dependent claims. While it is 
possible to file a preliminary amendment on filing of an application to 
reduce the number of claims to no more than four independent claims and 
thirty total claims, and to eliminate any multiple dependent claims, 
the Office strongly encourages applicants to file applications without 
any preliminary amendments. If an amendment is filed in an application 
that has been granted prioritized examination that results in more than 
four independent claims or thirty total claims, or a multiple dependent 
claim, then prioritized examination will be terminated.
    (4) The request for prioritized examination must be filed with the 
application in compliance with 37 CFR 1.102(e), accompanied by the 
prioritized examination fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(c), the processing 
fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(i), and the publication fee set forth in 
37 CFR 1.18(d). Applicants are advised to use the certification and 
request form PTO/SB/424 which is available on EFS-Web.
    (5) The request for prioritized examination may be accepted if the 
requirements under 37 CFR 1.102(e) are satisfied and the limit for the 
number of requests for the year has not been reached. The Office is 
limiting requests for prioritized examination under 37 CFR 1.102(e) to 
a maximum of 10,000 applications during fiscal year 2011. The Office 
will revisit this limit at the end of fiscal year 2011 to evaluate what 
the appropriate maximum should be, if any.

Discussion of Specific Rules

    Title 37 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1, is proposed to 
be amended as follows:
    Section 1.17: The Office is implementing a procedure for 
prioritized examination (Track I) under the Leahy-Smith America Invents 
Act upon applicant's request and payment of a fee at the time of filing 
of the application.
    Section 1.17(c) is amended to set the fee for filing a request for 
prioritized examination under Sec.  1.102(e) at $4,800.00 ($2,400.00 
for small entities). See Sec.  1.102(e). Thus, as of September 26, 
2011, the total fee due on filing a utility application for which 
prioritized examination is being sought (not including any applicable 
excess claims and application size fees) is $6,480 ($3,360 for a small 
entity). The total fee due on filing for a utility application is 
calculated as follows: (1) The $1,250 ($530 small entity) in filing 
fees which includes the $380 ($95 small entity filing by EFS-Web) 
filing fee, the $620 ($310 small entity) search fee, and the $250 ($125 
small entity) examination fee; (2) the $4,800 ($2,400 small entity) 
prioritized examination fee; (3) the $130 processing fee; and (4) the 
$300 publication fee.
    Section 1.17(i) is amended to add a reference for requesting 
prioritized examination of an application under Sec.  1.102(e).
    Section 1.102: Section 1.102 is revised to provide for the Track I 
procedure in which applicant has the option to request prioritized 
examination on the date the application is filed. Particularly, Sec.  
1.102(a) is revised by adding a reference to paragraph (e) so that 
applications may be advanced out of turn for examination or for further 
action upon filing a request under Sec.  1.102(e). Section 1.102(e) is 
added to set forth the requirements for filing a request for 
prioritized examination, which provides that a request for prioritized 
examination will not be granted unless: (1) the application is an 
original utility or plant nonprovisional application filed under 35 
U.S.C. 111(a) that is complete as defined by Sec.  1.51(b), with any 
fees due under Sec.  1.16 (the filing fee, search fee, examination fee, 
any applicable excess claims fee, and any applicable application size 
fee) paid on filing; (2) the application is filed via the Office's 
electronic filing system (EFS-Web) if it is a utility application (the 
Office will accept a request for prioritized examination in paper when 
it accompanies the filing of a plant application, because plant 
applications may not be filed via EFS-Web); (3) the request for 
prioritized examination, including the prioritized examination fee set 
forth in Sec.  1.17(c), the processing fee set forth in Sec.  1.17(i), 
and the publication fee set forth in Sec.  1.18(d) are

[[Page 59053]]

present upon filing; and (4) the application contains no more than four 
independent claims, no more than thirty total claims, and no multiple 
dependent claims. Section 1.102(e) finally provides that prioritized 
examination under this paragraph will not be accorded international 
applications, design applications, reissue applications, provisional 
applications, or reexamination proceedings.
    The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act currently limits the number of 
requests for prioritized examination under Sec.  1.102(e) that the 
Office may accept in each fiscal year to a maximum of 10,000. A request 
for prioritized examination may be accepted if the requirements under 
Sec.  1.102(e) are satisfied and the limit for the number of requests 
has not been reached.

Rulemaking Considerations

    A. Administrative Procedure Act: This final rule implements the 
prioritized examination provisions of section 11(h) of the Leahy-Smith 
America Invents Act. The changes in this final rule that implement the 
fee for prioritized examination and requirements specified in section 
11(h) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act are merely interpretative. 
See Gray Panthers Advocacy Comm. v. Sullivan, 936 F.2d 1284, 1291-1292 
(DC Cir. 1991) (regulation that reiterates statutory language does not 
require notice and comment procedures); See Nat'l Org. of Veterans' 
Advocates v. Sec'y of Veterans Affairs, 260 F.3d 1365, 1375 (Fed. Cir. 
2001). The additional requirements (e.g., filing via the Office's 
electronic filing system (EFS-Web)) merely specify the procedures that 
apply to applications for which an applicant has requested prioritized 
examination and are thus procedural and not substantive. See JEM Broad. 
Co. v. FCC, 22 F.3d 320, 326 (DC Cir. 1994) (``[T]he critical feature 
of the procedural exception [in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A)] is that it covers 
agency actions that do not themselves alter the rights or interests of 
parties, although [they] may alter the manner in which the parties 
present themselves or their viewpoints to the agency'') (quoting 
Batterton v. Marshall, 648 F.2d 694, 707 (DC Cir. 1980)).
    Accordingly, prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are 
not required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A) or any other law. See 
Cooper Techs. Co. v. Dudas, 536 F.3d 1330, 1336-37 (Fed. Cir. 2008) 
(stating that 5 U.S.C. 553, and thus 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2)(B), do not 
require notice and comment rule making for ``interpretative rules, 
general statements of policy, or rules of agency organization, 
procedure, or practice.'') (quoting 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A)). Nevertheless, 
the changes being adopted in this final rule were proposed for comment 
in February of 2011, and those comments have been considered by the 
Office. See Changes to Implement the Prioritized Examination Track 
(Track I) of the Enhanced Examination Timing Control Procedures, 76 FR 
at 18402-06. In addition, thirty-day advance publication is not 
required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d) or any other law. See 5 U.S.C. 
553(d) (requiring thirty-day advance publication for substantive 
rules).
    B. Regulatory Flexibility Act: As prior notice and an opportunity 
for public comment are not required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or any 
other law, neither a regulatory flexibility analysis nor a 
certification under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et 
seq.) is required. See 5 U.S.C. 603.
    C. Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review): This 
rule making has been determined to be significant for purposes of 
Executive Order 12866 (Sept. 30, 1993).
    D. Executive Order 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory 
Review): The Office has complied with Executive Order 13563. 
Specifically, the Office has: (1) Used the best available techniques to 
quantify costs and benefits, and has considered values such as equity, 
fairness, and distributive impacts; (2) provided the public with a 
meaningful opportunity to participate in the regulatory process, 
including soliciting the views of those likely affected prior to 
issuing a notice of proposed rule making, and provided on-line access 
to the rule making docket; (3) attempted to promote coordination, 
simplification, and harmonization across government agencies and 
identified goals designed to promote innovation; (4) considered 
approaches that reduce burdens and maintain flexibility and freedom of 
choice for the public; and (5) ensured the objectivity of scientific 
and technological information and processes, to the extent applicable.
    E. Executive Order 13132 (Federalism): This rule making does not 
contain policies with federalism implications sufficient to warrant 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment under Executive Order 13132 
(Aug. 4, 1999).
    F. Executive Order 13175 (Tribal Consultation): This rule making 
will not: (1) Have substantial direct effects on one or more Indian 
Tribes; (2) impose substantial direct compliance costs on Indian Tribal 
governments; or (3) preempt Tribal law. Therefore, a Tribal summary 
impact statement is not required under Executive Order 13175 (Nov. 6, 
2000).
    G. Executive Order 13211 (Energy Effects): This rule making is not 
a significant energy action under Executive Order 13211 because this 
rule making is not likely to have a significant adverse effect on the 
supply, distribution, or use of energy. Therefore, a Statement of 
Energy Effects is not required under Executive Order 13211 (May 18, 
2001).
    H. Executive Order 12988 (Civil Justice Reform): This rule making 
meets applicable standards to minimize litigation, eliminate ambiguity, 
and reduce burden as set forth in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of 
Executive Order 12988 (Feb. 5, 1996).
    I. Executive Order 13045 (Protection of Children): This rule making 
does not concern an environmental risk to health or safety that may 
disproportionately affect children under Executive Order 13045 (Apr. 
21, 1997).
    J. Executive Order 12630 (Taking of Private Property): This rule 
making will not effect a taking of private property or otherwise have 
taking implications under Executive Order 12630 (Mar. 15, 1988).
    K. Congressional Review Act: Under the Congressional Review Act 
provisions of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 
1996 (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), prior to issuing any final rule, the 
United States Patent and Trademark Office will submit a report 
containing the final rule and other required information to the United 
States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and the 
Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office. The 
changes in this notice are not expected to result in an annual effect 
on the economy of 100 million dollars or more, a major increase in 
costs or prices, or significant adverse effects on competition, 
employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of 
United States-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based 
enterprises in domestic and export markets. Therefore, this notice is 
not expected to result in a ``major rule'' as defined in 5 U.S.C. 
804(2).
    L. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995: The changes set forth in 
this notice do not involve a Federal intergovernmental mandate that 
will result in the expenditure by State, local, and Tribal governments, 
in the aggregate, of 100 million dollars (as adjusted) or more in any 
one year, or a Federal private sector mandate that will result in the 
expenditure by the private sector of 100 million dollars (as adjusted) 
or more in any one year, and will not significantly or uniquely affect

[[Page 59054]]

small governments. Therefore, no actions are necessary under the 
provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995. See 2 U.S.C. 
1501 et seq.
    M. National Environmental Policy Act: This rule making will not 
have any effect on the quality of the environment and is thus 
categorically excluded from review under the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969. See 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.
    N. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act: The 
requirements of section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and 
Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) are not applicable because 
this rule making does not contain provisions which involve the use of 
technical standards.
    O. Paperwork Reduction Act: This rule making implements a 
prioritized examination process. The primary impact on the public of 
this change is that applicants will have the option to request 
prioritized examination by paying appropriate fees, filing a complete 
application via the Office's electronic filing system (EFS-Web) with 
any filing and excess claims fees due paid on filing, and limiting 
their applications to four independent claims and thirty total claims 
with no multiple dependent claims.
    An applicant who wishes to participate in the program must submit a 
certification and request to participate in the prioritized examination 
program, preferably by using Form PTO/SB/424. The Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) has determined that, under 5 CFR 1320.3(h), Form PTO/
SB/424 does not collect ``information'' within the meaning of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Therefore, this rule making does not 
impose additional collection requirements under the Paperwork Reduction 
Act which are subject to further review by OMB.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure 
to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information 
displays a currently valid OMB control number.

List of Subjects in 37 CFR Part 1

    Administrative practice and procedure, Courts, Freedom of 
information, Inventions and patents, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Small businesses.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the final rule amending 
37 CFR part 1 that was published at 76 FR 18399-18407 on April 4, 2011, 
and whose effective date was delayed until further notice at 76 FR 
23876 on April 29, 2011, is withdrawn, and 37 CFR part 1 is amended as 
follows:

PART 1--RULES OF PRACTICE IN PATENT CASES

0
1. The authority citation for 37 CFR part 1 continues to read as 
follows:


    Authority: 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2).


0
2. Section 1.17 is amended by adding new paragraph (c) and revising 
paragraph (i) to read as follows:


Sec.  1.17  Patent application and reexamination processing fees.

* * * * *
    (c) For filing a request for prioritized examination under Sec.  
1.102(e):

By a small entity (Sec.   1.27(a))..........  $2,400.00
By other than a small entity................  $4,800.00
 

* * * * *

(i) Processing fee for taking action under     $130.00
 one of the following sections which refers
 to this paragraph.
 

    Sec.  1.28(c)(3)--for processing a non-itemized fee deficiency 
based on an error in small entity status.
    Sec.  1.41--for supplying the name or names of the inventor or 
inventors after the filing date without an oath or declaration as 
prescribed by Sec.  1.63, except in provisional applications.
    Sec.  1.48--for correcting inventorship, except in provisional 
applications.
    Sec.  1.52(d)--for processing a nonprovisional application filed 
with a specification in a language other than English.
    Sec.  1.53(b)(3)--to convert a provisional application filed under 
Sec.  1.53(c) into a nonprovisional application under Sec.  1.53(b).
    Sec.  1.55--for entry of late priority papers.
    Sec.  1.71(g)(2)--for processing a belated amendment under Sec.  
1.71(g).
    Sec.  1.99(e)--for processing a belated submission under Sec.  
1.99.
    Sec.  1.102(e)--for requesting prioritized examination of an 
application.
    Sec.  1.103(b)--for requesting limited suspension of action, 
continued prosecution application for a design patent (Sec.  1.53(d)).
    Sec.  1.103(c)--for requesting limited suspension of action, 
request for continued examination (Sec.  1.114).
    Sec.  1.103(d)--for requesting deferred examination of an 
application.
    Sec.  1.217--for processing a redacted copy of a paper submitted in 
the file of an application in which a redacted copy was submitted for 
the patent application publication.
    Sec.  1.221--for requesting voluntary publication or republication 
of an application.
    Sec.  1.291(c)(5)--for processing a second or subsequent protest by 
the same real party in interest.
    Sec.  1.497(d)--for filing an oath or declaration pursuant to 35 
U.S.C. 371(c)(4) naming an inventive entity different from the 
inventive entity set forth in the international stage.
    Sec.  3.81--for a patent to issue to assignee, assignment submitted 
after payment of the issue fee.
* * * * *

0
3. Section 1.102 is amended by revising paragraph (a) and adding 
paragraph (e) to read as follows:


Sec.  1.102  Advancement of examination.

    (a) Applications will not be advanced out of turn for examination 
or for further action except as provided by this part, or upon order of 
the Director to expedite the business of the Office, or upon filing of 
a request under paragraph (b) or (e) of this section or upon filing a 
petition or request under paragraph (c) or (d) of this section with a 
showing which, in the opinion of the Director, will justify so 
advancing it.
* * * * *
    (e) A request for prioritized examination under this paragraph may 
be filed only with an original utility or plant nonprovisional 
application under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) that is complete as defined by Sec.  
1.51(b), with any fees due under Sec.  1.16 paid on filing. If the 
application is a utility application, it must be filed via the Office's 
electronic filing system (EFS-Web). A request for prioritized 
examination under this

[[Page 59055]]

paragraph must be present upon filing and must be accompanied by the 
prioritized examination fee set forth in Sec.  1.17(c), the processing 
fee set forth in Sec.  1.17(i), and the publication fee set forth in 
Sec.  1.18(d). An application for which prioritized examination has 
been requested may not contain or be amended to contain more than four 
independent claims, more than thirty total claims, or any multiple 
dependent claim. Prioritized examination under this paragraph will not 
be accorded to international applications, design applications, reissue 
applications, provisional applications, or reexamination proceedings.

    Dated: September 19, 2011.
David J. Kappos,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2011-24467 Filed 9-22-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P