Data / Federal rules / 2025-15497
Eliminating Expedited Examination of Design Applications
The Patent and Trademark Office published this final rule in the Federal Register on August 14, 2025. It took effect on August 14, 2025.
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What the agency says
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) previously suspended expedited examination of design applications effective April 17, 2025. Further to the suspension, the USPTO hereby amends the Rules of Practice in Patent Cases by removing the provisions in the Code of Federal Regulations that provide for expedited examination of design applications. The removal of those regulations supports the USPTO's efforts to reduce the pendency of unexamined design applications, which will benefit all design patent applicants. The removal also facilitates the USPTO's efforts to address the problem of erroneous micro entity certifications, as well as the USPTO's broader efforts to mitigate and protect against threats to the intellectual property system.
Key facts
- Document number
- 2025-15497
- Type
- Final rule
- Action
- Final rule
- Agency
- Commerce Department; Patent and Trademark Office
- Published
- August 14, 2025
- Takes effect
- August 14, 2025
- Dates
- This rule is effective August 14, 2025.
- Docket
- Docket No.: PTO-P-2025-0004
- Regulation ID (RIN)
- 0651-AD83
- Code of Federal Regulations
- 37 CFR 1
- Topics
- Administrative practice and procedure; Biologics; Courts; Freedom of information; Inventions and patents; Reporting and recordkeeping requirements; Small businesses
- Pages
- 3
Other documents from the Patent and Trademark Office
Everything from the Patent and Trademark Office · Rules on administrative practice and procedure · Rules on biologics · Rules on courts · Published in August 2025
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