The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has announced the Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program where the ex parte appeal of an application before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) can be expedited by submitting a petition fee of $400.
The pilot program aims to provide a decision on the appeal within 6 months of the date that the appeal is entered into the pilot program. The program will be available until 500 petitions are granted fast-track status (with a limit of 125 granted petitions per quarter) or until July 2, 2021 whichever occurs first.
Read the Notice here.