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USPTO Expands Access to Track One Prioritized Examination

Timothy Snowden, CPP CLP

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The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has officially raised the cap on prioritized examination requests—commonly known as “Track One”—from 15,000 to 20,000 per fiscal year. This expansion, under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA), significantly increases opportunities for applicants seeking faster patent protection.

Why Choose Track One?
Track One offers accelerated examination — allowing applicants to receive a final decision on their patent application in an average of 12 months or less. In practice, we often see a first examination response in as soon as 6 months, and sometimes in as soon as 3 months. Benefits include:

  • Accelerated patent protection for faster commercialization
  • Competitive advantage in fast-moving markets
  • Greater confidence for investors or commercialization partners (such as licensees)

Act Now
With the new 20,000 annual limit, more applicants can take advantage of this fast-track option. As other accelerated examination options have been discontinued, more applicants may make use of the Track One program. Contact Definitive Patents for skilled and experienced guidance in rapidly defining your innovation into valuable intellectual property.

Author

  • Timothy D. Snowden is a Certified Patent Practitioner and Certified Licensing Professional with over a decade of experience guiding innovators in building and monetizing high-value patent portfolios. As Founder and Principal of Definitive Patents and a Founding Member of Synchrony IP, he has successfully led patent prosecution and portfolio development for startups, family businesses, and publicly traded companies across industries including medical devices, agriculture, software, and advanced engineering. A magna cum laude graduate of Texas A&M University in Biomedical Engineering, Snowden combines technical expertise with strategic business insight to help entrepreneurs secure patents tightly aligned with commercial goals. He has served as Patent Prosecution Chair at a boutique firm, earned commendation from the Patent Trials and Appeal Board, and continues to shape the profession as a Director with the National Council on Patent Practicum. His mission is to empower innovators worldwide with creative patent strategies that transform inventions into marketable assets.
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Timothy Snowden, CPP CLP

Timothy D. Snowden is a Certified Patent Practitioner and Certified Licensing Professional with over a decade of experience guiding innovators in building and monetizing high-value patent portfolios. As Founder and Principal of Definitive Patents and a Founding Member of Synchrony IP, he has successfully led patent prosecution and portfolio development for startups, family businesses, and publicly traded companies across industries including medical devices, agriculture, software, and advanced engineering. A magna cum laude graduate of Texas A&M University in Biomedical Engineering, Snowden combines technical expertise with strategic business insight to help entrepreneurs secure patents tightly aligned with commercial goals. He has served as Patent Prosecution Chair at a boutique firm, earned commendation from the Patent Trials and Appeal Board, and continues to shape the profession as a Director with the National Council on Patent Practicum. His mission is to empower innovators worldwide with creative patent strategies that transform inventions into marketable assets.

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