USPTO Extends the Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program

Release Time：2026-05-14 08:37Author：Views：17

The Federal Register has issued a notice that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announces the extension of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program, along with revisions to its appeal decision timeframe standards. This pilot adjustment shall take effect on May 6, 2026.

This extension extends the term of the Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program through May 6, 2028. Upon program expiration, the USPTO may elect to grant a temporary or permanent extension, revise relevant rules, or discontinue the pilot program based on its actual operation performance.

Speeding up case adjudication is the core highlight of this pilot adjustment. Previously, the pilot program set a six-month target for rendering a decision on each appeal from the date an appeal enters the program. Under the new adjustment, the target timeframe for reaching a decision on all approved participating appeals is shortened to four months.

The Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program is available to appellants filing ex parte appeals before the PTAB, who may submit a petition to expedite the review proceeding of their own appeals. In terms of petition quota, the number of granted petitions under the program remains capped at 125 per quarter. If the quarterly cap is reached, the PTAB retains the discretion to accept additional petitions, which may be considered in the current quarter or the subsequent quarter.

Source：https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/06/2026-08798/extension-and-modification-of-the-fast-track-appeals-pilot-program

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