The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has announced that its Streamlined Claim Set Pilot Program, which moves qualifying patent applications to the front of the examination line, will conclude on October 27, 2026. The program, which began accepting requests in 2025, offers a faster path to a first Office action for eligible applications. However, the window for submission is closing, and the pilot may end earlier if a Technology Center accepts approximately 200 pilot applications. Since June 10, 2026, the agency has also waived the petition fee for requests filed under the program, removing a financial barrier for applicants.
To qualify, the application must be an original, non-continuing utility nonprovisional application filed before October 27, 2025. This means new filings are not eligible. Additionally, applications that claim priority to another nonprovisional or international application, including national stage applications, are excluded. The claims may include no more than one independent claim and ten total claims, and multiple dependent claims are not allowed. The USPTO must not have issued a first Office action on the application. Applicants must submit Form PTO/SB/472 through Patent Center, and the specification, claims, and abstract must meet DOCX format requirements. An applicant may file a preliminary amendment to bring a pending application within the claim limits before submitting the petition.
According to the USPTO, the program is designed to streamline examination and reduce pendency for certain applications. The waiver of the petition fee, which was previously required, makes the program more accessible to independent inventors and small businesses. However, the limited number of applications that can be accepted means that interested parties must act quickly.
The Patent Baron, PLLC, an intellectual property firm led by a patent lawyer in Howell, MI, is reviewing pending applications for inventors and small businesses that may still qualify before the window closes. J. Baron Lesperance, founder of the firm, noted, "Many inventors in Livingston County and across Michigan have applications sitting in the examination queue, and this pilot lets some of them move forward without a USPTO petition fee. Fewer claims can mean narrower protection, so we walk each client through that before filing." Lesperance is registered to practice before the USPTO and has been a member of the State Bar of Michigan since 2002.
The program's end date of October 27, 2026, is fast approaching, and with the possibility of early closure, applicants should verify eligibility promptly. For those with pending applications that meet the criteria, the pilot offers a chance to accelerate examination and potentially obtain patent protection sooner. However, the trade-off of narrower claims must be carefully considered. As the deadline looms, inventors and small businesses should consult with qualified patent counsel to determine if the pilot is right for them. Additional information about the firm's services is available at The Patent Baron, PLLC.
