USPTO Timeliness Slipping: Patent Term Modification Data Presents Expanding Exam Problems

.by Dennis Crouch.The USPTO has pair of traditional features: (1) high quality examination to make sure applications please the requiring judicial requirements of patentability and (2) prompt and also effective handling of those applications. Recent data advises the Office is having a problem with the next of these mandates, as demonstrated in a vigorous uptick in Patent Condition Modification (PTA) honors. [Graphes below]