As we previously discussed, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) proposed significant changes to the Examiner count system on September 30, 2009.  Those proposed changes took effect on February 18, 2010.  As indicated in the USPTO press release (found here), the changes “place emphasis on complete and thorough initial examination, and are expected to decrease redundancy and encourage quicker resolution of issues in the patent application process.”

Among other things, the changes give the examiners more time for a first office action on the merits and time for examiner-initiated interviews, while reducing the credits received on requests for continued examination.  In order to gauge the effectiveness of the changes, the USPTO has launched a “Feedback Channel”.  The public now has an opportunity to provide comments and input to agency official regarding the new count system.