USPTO Eliminates Petition Fee for Streamlined Claim Set Pilot Program Starting June 2026

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has taken a significant step to reduce financial barriers for patent applicants by waiving the petition fee associated with the Streamlined Claim Set pilot program. Effective for petitions to make special filed on or after June 10, 2026, using form PTO/SB/472, the fee waiver applies to all eligible petitions under the program.

The Streamlined Claim Set pilot program is designed to expedite the examination process for certain utility patent applications. Specifically, it targets pending non-continuing utility applications that present no more than one independent claim and a total of ten claims. Under the program, such applications may be advanced out of turn to receive a first Office action more quickly than under the standard examination timeline.

Applicants who need to comply with the claim limitations can file a preliminary amendment to adjust their claims accordingly before submitting a petition to make special under the program.

The USPTO will continue to accept petitions to make special until October 27, 2026, or until each Technology Center responsible for examining utility applications has docketed approximately 200 pilot applications, whichever occurs first. Currently, there remain open slots for pilot applications across all Technology Centers. The USPTO maintains a pilot program website that is periodically updated to reflect the number of accepted pilot applications per Technology Center.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult the Federal Register Notice governing the program to ensure they meet all eligibility requirements. Notably, only applications filed before October 27, 2025, qualify for participation. Additionally, petitions to make special should not be filed in applications already assigned to a particular examiner, as such petitions are generally subject to dismissal by the USPTO.

The USPTO’s decision to waive the petition fee aims to promote broader participation in the pilot program by removing cost-related obstacles. This initiative aligns with the agency’s ongoing efforts to improve patent examination efficiency and reduce pendency times.

For applicants encountering difficulties accessing links or information related to the program, the USPTO advises contacting IT or email administrators to allow-list relevant domains to ensure uninterrupted access.

To stay informed about updates and notices from the USPTO, applicants and practitioners can subscribe to regular email communications via the agency’s subscription center.

The USPTO notes that this announcement was disseminated from an unmonitored mailbox and directs inquiries to its official website contact page for assistance.