The USPTO has launched a new after final program available
starting today, July 11, 2016. The Post-Prosecution Pilot Program
(P3) combines features of the After Final Consideration Pilot 2.0
(AFCP 2.0) and Pre-Appeal Brief Conference Pilot programs, and adds
a feature that stakeholders have been clamoring for–Applicant
participation in the process. The P3 program will run through
January 12, 2017, or the date the USPTO has accepted 1,600
compliant requests. However, each individual technology center will
accept only 200 compliant requests, so the program could close
earlier in a given technology center.
The USPTO P3 Program Requirements
This July 11, 2016 Federal Register Notice outlines
the requirements of the P3 program. Some of the key requirements
are outlined below, but practitioners and stakeholders considering
using the program should study the notice in detail.
