The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Streamlined Claim Set Pilot Program, which accelerates examination for certain pending patent applications, is set to expire on October 27, 2026. The program, which began accepting requests earlier this year, moves qualifying applications out of turn until a first Office action is issued. However, the pilot may close even sooner if a Technology Center accepts approximately 200 applications, making early action critical for interested parties.
Eligibility is strictly limited. Only original, non-continuing utility nonprovisional applications filed before October 27, 2025, qualify. Applications claiming priority to another nonprovisional or international application, including national stage applications, are excluded. Additionally, the USPTO must not have issued a first Office action on the application. To participate, applicants must submit Form PTO/SB/472 through Patent Center and ensure the specification, claims, and abstract meet DOCX format requirements. The claims are restricted to no more than one independent claim and ten total claims, with multiple dependent claims prohibited. Applicants may file a preliminary amendment to bring a pending application within these limits before submitting the petition.
Since June 10, 2026, the agency has waived the petition fee for requests filed under the program, removing a cost barrier for inventors and small businesses. According to the USPTO, the pilot is designed to streamline examination and reduce pendency for applications that meet the claim set requirements. The program's early closure possibility underscores the need for prompt action.
The Patent Baron, PLLC, an intellectual property firm based in Howell, Michigan, is reviewing pending applications for inventors and small businesses that may still qualify before the window closes. The firm, led by J. Baron Lesperance, emphasizes the potential trade-offs of the program. "Fewer claims can mean narrower protection, so we walk each client through that before filing," Lesperance said. He also noted that many inventors in Livingston County and across Michigan have applications sitting in the examination queue, and the pilot lets some move forward without a USPTO petition fee.
For inventors and small businesses, the pilot offers a rare opportunity to jump ahead in line, potentially bringing products to market faster and securing investment sooner. However, the reduced claim count may limit the scope of protection, requiring careful strategic consideration. With the deadline approaching, stakeholders should assess their portfolios and consult with qualified patent professionals to determine if the pilot aligns with their long-term intellectual property goals.
