The USPTO has announced a “Green Technology Pilot Program” in which an applicant may have an application accorded special status and thereby be examined more quickly. The pilot program was implemented on December 8, 2009 and is made available to applications pertaining to environmental quality, energy conservation, development of renewable energy resources, and greenhouse gas emission reduction. To participate in the program, an application must have a filing date earlier than December 8, 2009, and the applicant must file a petition to make special with the USPTO before December 8, 2010 and before a first Office Action is issued. There is no fee required for participating in the program, but the USPTO will accept only the first 3000 petitions to make special.
Additional details and requirements are available from the USPTO website via the following link.
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