USPTO: New COVID-19 Provisional Application Pilot Program

USPTO Pilot Program enables deferred-fee payment related to filing of provisional patent applications that combat COVID-19

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) launched a pilot program that allows deferring the payment of filing official fees for provisional patent applications that combat COVID-19, until the filing of a corresponding non-provisional application.

The applicants must agree that the technical subject matter disclosed in their provisional applications will be available to the public on USPTO’s website.

In this way, two objectives are achieved: by disseminating the technology, applicants contribute to the fight against COVID-19 while at the same time protecting their patent rights.

To qualify for the program, the subject matter disclosed in the provisional must concern a product or process related to COVID-19, and such product or process requires Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for COVID-19 use.

The program accepts applications as from September 17, 2020, for a duration of 12 months.

For more information, please click here.