US Patent and Trademark Office Director Kathi Vidal is hoping that a new pilot program and updated guidance will help the agency increase clarity on patent subject matter eligibility, after the Supreme Court has again declined to take up the issue.
The PTO is moving forward with a pilot program that will look into whether examination efficiency and patent quality can be improved by delaying a complete evaluation of subject matter eligibility until other patentability criteria have also been graded, according to her Director’s Blog entry posted Monday.
Vidal also said PTO will be revisiting subject matter eligibility guidance issued ...