The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has announced plans to launch a Standards Participation and Representation Kudos (SPARK) Pilot Program that will incentivize participation in standards development by small- and medium-sized businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations.
The SPARK program is the first initiative of the recently announced USPTO Standard Essential Patent (SEP) Working Group.
The USPTO intends for the program to offset the time and resources invested in standards development, noting that “resource constraints often prevent smaller U.S. entities from participating meaningfully in SDOs [standards developing organizations].”
Through the program, U.S. entities making technical contributions to SDOs, or otherwise participating meaningfully in their activities, can receive acceleration certificates that expedite examination of patent applications or appeals to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).
“American leadership in standards development is essential to innovation, competitiveness, and national security,” said John A. Squires, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO. “The SPARK program recognizes that small- and medium-sized businesses, universities, and non-profits bring critical expertise and innovative thinking to standards development, but often lack the resources of larger enterprises to sustain participation. By offering meaningful incentives here at the USPTO, we’re continuing to invest in broader and more robust U.S. representation in the very forums where tomorrow’s technologies are taking shape today.”
Further information, including eligibility requirements and the application process, will be announced when the pilot program launches.
Learn more: USPTO to launch SPARK Pilot Program to strengthen U.S. standards development leadership
