U.S. Patent Office Waives Fee For AI Search Automated Pilot Program
A patentability search and assessment is always recommended when evaluating whether your invention would be entitled to meaningful patent protection. The search also helps to inform the inventor and patent attorney where there may be areas of more narrow protection and draft accordingly.
The United States Patent Office recently launched the AI Search Automated Pilot Program. The program is designed to evaluate the examination process by including an automated pre-examination search, and whether the inclusion will improve quality and efficiency of examinations.
The program (ASAP!) will conduct an automated search for original, noncontinuing, nonprovisional applications. The automated search results will be sent to the applicant and will provide an earlier communication regarding potential prior art issues. Under the pilot program, applicants will not be required to respond to the search results.
However, the search results may provide an opportunity to the applicant to file a preliminary amendment in an effort to place the application in a stronger position for allowance. Alternatively, the applicant may wish to file an express abandonment and obtain a fee refund in view of search results that indicate a lack of patentability.
Recently, the U.S. Patent Office has announced that it is waiving the fee requirement for any petition to participate under 37 C.F.R. 1.182 filed after March 23, 2026. This should enable self filing entrepreneurs and inventors to take advantage of this new program for free!
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