{"abstract":"The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is revising its practice of requiring additional information for delays in taking certain actions in patent applications and patents from requiring additional information for delays exceeding two years to requiring additional information for delays exceeding one year. This action is being taken to increase certainty and predictability concerning patent rights, and to encourage the timely filing of grantable petitions to revive applications, accept delayed maintenance fee payments, accept delayed priority or benefit claims, and excuse an applicant's failure to act within prescribed time limits in connection with international design applications. In addition, the USPTO is changing the conditions for when the corresponding petition fee is required.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"Patent and Trademark Office","name":"Patent and Trademark Office","id":402,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/patent-and-trademark-office","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/402","parent_id":54,"slug":"patent-and-trademark-office"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2026/06/24/2026-12717.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"1","title":37}],"citation":"91 FR 37826","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"This rule is effective August 13, 2026, and will be applicable to any new petition filed after the effective date.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Docket No.: PTO-P-2025-0413"],"dockets":[{"supporting_documents":[],"agency_name":"PTO","documents":[{"comment_count":0,"comment_start_date":"2026-06-24","updated_at":"2026-06-24T11:57:06.658-04:00","comment_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/PTO-P-2025-0413-0001","allow_late_comments":false,"id":"PTO-P-2025-0413-0001","comment_end_date":null,"regulations_dot_gov_open_for_comment":false}],"supporting_documents_count":0,"id":"PTO-P-2025-0413","title":"Conditions for Additional Information and Fee in Petitions Filed in Patent Applications and Patents Based on Unintentional Delay"}],"document_number":"2026-12717","effective_on":"2026-08-13","end_page":37830,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2026/06/24/2026-12717.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/24/2026-12717/conditions-for-additional-information-and-fee-in-petitions-filed-in-patent-applications-and-patents","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2026-12717?publication_date=2026-06-24","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2026-06-24/2026-12717/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":5,"page_views":{"count":2249,"last_updated":"2026-09-20 20:15:04 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-06-24/pdf/2026-12717.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-12717.pdf?1782218720","publication_date":"2026-06-24","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/06/24/2026-12717.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"0651-AD92":null},"regulation_id_numbers":["0651-AD92"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[],"comments_count":0,"agency_id":"PTO","comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=PTO-P-2025-0413","supporting_documents_count":0,"docket_id":"PTO-P-2025-0413","document_id":"PTO-P-2025-0413-0001","regulation_id_number":"0651-AD92","title":"Conditions for Additional Information and Fee in Petitions Filed in Patent Applications and Patents Based on Unintentional Delay","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2026-06-25T17:55:04Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":null,"signing_date":null,"start_page":37826,"subtype":null,"title":"Conditions for Additional Information and Fee in Petitions Filed in Patent Applications and Patents Based on Unintentional Delay","toc_doc":"Conditions for Additional Information and Fee in Petitions Filed in Patent Applications and Patents Based on Unintentional Delay","toc_subject":null,"topics":["Administrative practice and procedure","Biologics","Courts","Freedom of information","Inventions and patents","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Small businesses"],"type":"Rule","volume":91}