USPTO Patent Backlog Is Shrinking

IP Brief | August 2026

What the Latest Numbers Mean for Patent Applicants The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office has made meaningful progress in reducing its unexamined patent application inventory. As of July 2026, the unexamined application inventory stands at approximately 759,413 (down from over 802,659 in July 2025). First Office Action ...

FAST-TRACK YOUR PATENT APPLICATION – THE STREAMLINED CLAIM SET PILOT PROGRAM

IP Brief  | August 2026 Limit Your Claims - Skip the Queue - Save on Fees

The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) is incentivizing Applicants to take part in its Streamlined Claim Set Pilot Program (SCSPP) by waiving the petition fee.

The SCSPP program expedites patent examination for qualified non-continuing utility applications ...

Mandatory U.S. Representation Rule for Foreign-Domiciled Applicants

Major New Rule: Mandatory U.S. Practitioner Representation for Foreign-Domiciled Applicants and Owners: Effective July 20, 2026 The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a significant new rule requiring U.S.-registered patent practitioner representation for foreign-domiciled applicants, inventors, and patent owners.  The new rule took effect on July 20, 2026. In 2024, ...

AI Meets IP: The Courts Draw the Line – Plus, First Major Fair-Use Rulings on AI Training Data

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape innovation, creativity, and business operations, United States courts issued several landmark decisions in 2025 and early 2026 that clarify the boundaries of intellectual property protection in the AI era. These rulings—updated with key procedural developments through late May 2026—provide much-needed clarity ...