The US Patent Office stops fast-tracking design patents

The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will no longer offer expedited review for design patent applications. This change aims to reduce the backlog of unexamined applications and address issues with incorrect fee certifications.

For years, some design patent applicants could pay extra to get their applications reviewed faster. This created a two-tiered system where those with more resources could jump the line. Now, all design patent applications will go through the same process, which means a longer wait for everyone, but a fairer system overall.