USPTO Pre-Appeal Brief Conference Pilot Program Coming Soon

Around the first first half of July 2005, the USPTO is expected to formally announce a new Pre-Appeal Brief Conference Pilot Program that will offer applicants an avenue to request that a panel of examiners formally review the legal and factual basis of the rejections in their application prior to the filing of an appeal brief. The program is intended to spare applicants the added time and expense of preparing an appeal brief if a panel review determines an application is not in condition for appeal. Applicants will likely be required to file a formal request with the notice of appeal, and before the filing of an appeal brief.

Feel free to contact me for an informal, advance copy of the announcement.