The USPTO is now offering an application exchange program ("Project Exchange") allowing applicants that, prior to the program's inception, had more than one application pending at the USPTO to withdraw one of those applications in exchange for expedited examination of another application. The program will be limited to 15 applications per entity and will run until December 31, 2010.
From the USPTO website: "By providing incentives for applicants to withdraw unexamined applications that may no longer be important to them, Project Exchange is expected to appreciably reduce the backlog of unexamined patent applications pending before the USPTO. " Project Exchange is one a few initiatives with the goal of reducing the backlog of applications at the PTO implemented since Director David Kappos took office (see also the "First Action Interview Pilot Program").
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