USPTO Semiconductor Technology Pilot Program

The USPTO has announced a new Semiconductor Technology Pilot Program to encourage research, development, and innovation in semiconductor manufacturing. The Semiconductor Technology Pilot Program began accepting applications on December 1, 2023 and will continue through December 2, 2024.

According to the USPTO, the Semiconductor Technology Pilot Program supports the CHIPS Act of 2022 “by expediting the examination of patent applications for innovations that increase semiconductor device production, reduce semiconductor manufacturing costs, and strengthen the semiconductor supply chain”.

The Semiconductor Technology Pilot Program expedites examination of patent applications which contain at least one claim that covers a process or an apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device and that corresponds to one or more of the technical concepts within H10 (Semiconductor Devices; Electric Solid-State Devices Not Otherwise Provided For) or H01L (Semiconductor Devices Not Covered by Class H10) in the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) system and meets certain other requirements.

For further information, please contact Staas & Halsey LLP at info@s-n-h.com