Lexington, KY

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) discontinued the Accelerated Examination program for utility patent applications as of July 10, 2025, leaving Applicants with fewer options for an expedient U.S. patent examination. Under the Accelerated Examination program, a petition to make special may be filed without a fee for inventions that enhance environmental quality, support the development or conservation of energy resources, or counter terrorism. The discontinuation of the Accelerated Examination adds to challenges for Applicants seeking prompt patent prosecution, as patent pendency has increased in all technology centers (TCs), in part due to rising application volumes and workforce constraints at the USPTO (see “Patent Strategies in Response to Recent U.S. Developments”). These factors – including the recently lifted hiring freeze at the USPTO, anticipated layoffs, and ongoing uncertainty about workforce stability – have contributed to increased application pendency at the USPTO.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (the “OBBBA”) signed by President Trump on July 4, 2025, reflected the administration’s policy decision to end incentives for clean and renewable energy enacted in the Inflation Reduction Act (the “IRA”) during the previous administration. Tax credits for wind and solar projects in particular will face early termination. Bill Joseph and Juan Dawson take a look at those credits in this Stites & Harbison Client Alert.