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PTO Expands, Extends Peer Review Pilot
The Patent and Trademark Office is extending the duration, increasing the maximum number of applications, and expanding the scope of applications eligible to participate in its peer review pilot program. The initiative, launched in June 2007, encourages the public to review volunteered published patent applications and submit technical references and comments on what they believe to be the best prior art for consideration. The expansion and extension took effect Wednesday.
The program was initially restricted to patent applications in the computer-related arts but it has been expanded to include applications in the automated business data processing technologies, or business methods. Technical experts in the computer and business methods-related arts registering at peertopatent.org will review and submit information for up to 400 applications, up from 250 as first announced, officials said in a press release.
The pilot is being conducted in cooperation with the Peer-to-Patent Project, organized by the New York Law School’s Institute for Information Law and Policy. The pilot is extended for an additional 12 months and will end on June 15, 2009. To date, companies participating in the pilot include IBM, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems, Intel, GE, Red Hat, Cisco, Yahoo!, and others.
Posted by Andrew on July 16, 2008 01:19 PM | Permalink
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