Securing a patent is not a simple process. It usually requires more than a year of hard work and the support of a specialized legal professional. Business owners and even lawyers who have a general practice may not be able to successfully navigate patent prosecution without delays and complications.
With the right guidance, patent applicants can theoretically speed up the process of protecting original products. Recently, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced the expansion of its Track One expedited patent processing program.
Who might be eligible for a quicker review of a patent application?
Track One applies to only two industries
Historically, many expedited patent processing programs have only lasted for a set amount of time. The recent Cancer Moonshot program offered expedited processing for cutting-edge immunotherapy drugs and other novel treatments. There have also been expedited patent programs for information technology in recent years.
Track One is different in that it does not have a set beginning and end date but is instead an ongoing expedited processing program. Currently, only businesses attempting to patent plants or utility-related products are eligible for Track One expedited processing.
However, the program has expanded as of mid-2025. Previously, the USPTO limited Track One processing to 15,000 applications each year. Currently, up to 20,000 annual applicants may be eligible for track one expedited processing.
Securing assistance during patent prosecution can help business leaders ensure that they tap into the best systems available, given the patent they hope to acquire. Track One processing is only an option under limited circumstances, but proper assistance can speed up patent prosecution even for those who do not qualify for the Track One program.
