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< Previous
Next > Patently Offensive At any given time there are as many
as 400,000 patents in the U.S. Patent Office queue. Even with 3,400 examiners, the
average patent takes 24 months to be issued. Between 2000-2001 applications grew
by 12%, so it's not getting any easier. Typical applications are around 40 pages
of documentation, and can run to more than 100,000 pages. It currently takes 35
days to get through the pre-examination process and into the dreaded backlog pile,
where it will languish for an average of 15 months. 40% of applications are returned
for amendment - often just to get a signature at the bottom. Hey, it's a government
bureaucracy. Most applicants report that the examiners are very friendly to talk
with and are very helpful, so it's not all bad, and you'll think well of them once
that patent certificate is hanging on the wall! |
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