The USPTO’s Track One prioritized examination program offers inventors a fast track to obtaining a patent, with the promise of a final decision of the patent application within 12 months. To be eligible for Track One, the application must be a utility or plant patent application, the application must adhere to limitations on claims, and all application parts must be submitted on the same day. This includes all necessary fees, including filing, search, and examination fees, as well as a prioritized examination fee, which varies depending on the entity size: $4,000 for large entities, $2,000 for small entities, and $1,000 for micro entities.
The benefits of Track One are clear. In FY 2025, Track One applications have on average received a first office action in under 2 months and a final decision in just under 5 months (compared to 25 months for standard applications). Inadvertently, Track One applications also tend to fare better in general, having a higher allowance rate and a lower abandonment rate.
Though available to all, the program is most relevant to applications comprising time-sensitive innovations, well-funded startups or companies, and inventions in rapidly evolving fields. If your patent application just can’t wait, get in touch with My Patent Guys today at colton@mypatentguys.com to see if Track One is the best track for you!