The Patent and Trademark Office has launched a pilot project designed to facilitate the patent approval process. While the efficiency benefit of this is obvious — the PTO’s examiners are overburdened and the process can take many years — critics are concerned that the system could lead to manipulation and an uneven playing field. The project will post patent applications on the Web and invite comments, namely potentially relevant “prior art,” or any public information that could have a bearing on a patent’s application claims.
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New Web Site May Smooth Patent Process
Posted by: Erika Morphy March 6, 2007 02:05 PMThe Patent and Trademark Office has launched a pilot project designed to facilitate the patent approval process. While the efficiency benefit of this is obvious — the PTO’s examiners are overburdened and the process can take many years — critics are concerned that the system could lead to manipulation and an uneven playing field. The project will post patent applications on the Web and invite comments, namely potentially relevant “prior art,” or any public information that could have a bearing on a patent’s application claims.