USPTO Timeliness Slipping: Patent Phrase Correction Data Reveals Increasing Examination Hold-ups

.through Dennis Crouch.The USPTO has pair of traditional functions: (1) top quality evaluation to guarantee requests satisfy the demanding lawful requirements of patentability as well as (2) quick and reliable processing of those documents. Latest data suggests the Office is having a problem with the secondly of these directeds, as mirrored in a vigorous uptick in Patent Phrase Correction (PTA) honors. [Charts listed below]