35 U.S.C. § 28 — Award of certificates to accelerate certain matters at the Patent and Trademark Office

(a) Definition An "eligible entity" is one that: (1) submits an application under subsection (d) for a patent addressing a humanitarian issue; and (2) meets whatever requirements the Director specifies. (b) Establishment A competition is established, held at least every two years (not less frequently than biennially), to award eligible entities certificates. These certificates can be redeemed to accelerate one of these matters: (1) an ex parte reexamination proceeding, including one appeal from it to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board; (2) a patent application, including one appeal from it to that Board; (3) a Board appeal of a claim rejected twice in a patent or reissue application, or finally rejected in an ex parte reexamination, without accelerating the underlying matter itself; or (4) any other matter the Director identifies. (c) Administration The Director administers the competition established under (b). (d) Application An entity seeking an award must submit an application to the Director, at whatever time, in whatever manner, and with whatever information the Director requires. (e) Promotion of Competition The Director must promote the competition through the satellite offices established under section 1. (f) Treatment as Successor This competition is treated as the successor to the earlier Patents for Humanity Program, established by a notice titled "Humanitarian Awards Pilot Program," published at 77 Fed. Reg. 6544 on February 8, 2012.