The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is seeking public comments through November 19, 2010, about a proposal to incentivize the creation and wider distribution of technologies that address humanitarian needs.  Under the proposed pilot program, accelerated reexamination of a patent would be available for patent holders who donate their technology for humanitarian purposes. 

Technologies eligible for the program would include treatments for tropical diseases, diagnostic medical tools, crops with higher yields or better nutritional value, and treatments for sanitation or clean water.  Patent owners could qualify for the program by either making their patented technology available to impoverished populations for humanitarian use, or by making their patented technology available to researchers who are developing technologies that address humanitarian needs. 

Further information about the proposed fast-track ex parte re-examination pilot program including how to submit comments can be found in the Federal Register notice here.