USPTO Expands Access to Track One Prioritized Examination

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.