USPTO COVID-19 Programs
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Patent and Trademark Office has implemented some programs to aid people affected by the virus.
Here are some patent programs related to COVID-19:

• Waiver of petition to revive fees
• Extension of various deadlines
• Creation of a searchable repository for COVID-19 patents and publications
• Temporary permission to file plant patent applications through EFS web

1. Petitions to Revive

The USPTO considers the COVID-19 outbreak to be an extraordinary situation justifying waiver of certain fees. In particular, the USPTO will waive fees for petitions to revive abandoned patent applications where the application went abandoned because an attorney, agent, or at least one inventor was affected by COVID-19 in a way that caused a deadline to be missed. To take advantage of this program, applicants must submit a petition to revive along with a statement that the abandonment was caused by COVID-19.

More information at: Corona Virus Relief Notice

2. Extensions of deadlines

The USPTO will consider various types of responses filed through June 1, 2020, as being timely filed even if a deadline was missed. To take advantage of this program, applicants must provide a statement that the delay in filing was missed due to COVID-19 (for example, if any of the people involved with the patent application was personally affected by office closures, inaccessibility of files and other materials, cash flow, travel delays, personal or family illness, etc.).

More information at: Patent Notice Cares Act – April 2020

3. Searchable repository platform

The USPTO has started a new program, Patents 4 Partnerships, to provide the public with a searchable repository for patents and applications related to COVID-19 that are available to license. The goal is to facilitate connections between patent owners in possession of COVID-19 solutions and entities that can turn patented ideas into products and services for fighting COVID-19.

More information at: USPTO launches platform to facilitate connections between patent holders and potential licensees in key technologies

Patents 4 Partnerships link: IPMarketplace

Submission form to list on Patents 4 Partnerships: IP Marketplace Submission Forms

4. Filing of plant patent applications through EFS

The USPTO will temporarily allow patent applicants to file plant patent applications through EFS.

More information at: USPTO Allow Ffiling Plant Patent Applications & Correspondence Patent Electronic Filing

If you would like to know more about these programs and/or want to know if you may qualify, please reach out to M&B IP , LLC and we can help provide more information.