First Action Interview Program

The US patent and trademark office is starting a pilot program (called first action interview pilot program) to allow patent applicants to have an interview with the examiner after the first initial search is done on the patent application but before the examiner issues a first office action. This could improve the quality of first office actions. The criteria for participating are applications filed before September 2005 and in class 709 or applications filed before November 2006 in class 707. Info here: