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USPTO Launches “Streamlined Claim Set” Pilot Program — Opportunity for Faster First Office Actions
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has introduced a new Streamlined Claim Set Pilot Program designed to expedite examination of qualifying utility patent applications. The program aims to reduce pendency and improve examination efficiency by focusing examiner resources on concise, clearly structured claim sets.
USPTO Launches Automated Search Pilot Program — SLW Insights
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has announced the Automated Search Pilot Program (ASAP!), launching October 20, 2025. This initiative marks a significant step in the agency’s adoption of AI tools to improve patent examination efficiency and transparency.
USPTO Leadership Reins in PTAB on AI Eligibility
The USPTO’s decision in Ex parte Desjardins is good news for applicants in the AI and software spaces. The Appeals Review Panel (ARP), including newly appointed Director John Squires, overturned a Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) decision that had raised a new § 101 eligibility rejection.
The PTAB had treated the claims as directed to a mathematical algorithm without integration into a practical application, but the ARP found they reflected concrete improvements in how an AI model functions. This matters beyond one case: the ARP emphasized that eligibility should not be denied merely because claims involve mathematical concepts, algorithms, or machine learning.