Inventors frustrated with waiting for a decision on their applications from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office may soon be able to pay for expedited review under a proposal to be announced Thursday.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office chief David Kappos is proposing a new three-track system for patent applications that would allow applicants to pay an undisclosed amount on top of the standard $1,090 filing fee to jump to the front of the line for expedited reviews.

“Not every application needs to go at the same speed. Some need to go fast and some need to go more slowly,” Mr. Kappos said in an interview.

The system will allow applicants to essentially select which innovations are the most important for patent examiners to tackle first, Mr. Kappos said.

The proposal, which following a public comment period could go into effect next year, would be a major change for the Patent and Trademark Office, which has mostly reviewed applications on a first-come, first-served basis.

Other government agencies offer similar expedited services, including the State Department, which offers expedited passport processing for a $60 fee.

Multi-track reviews are part of a broader effort by Mr. Kappos and the Obama administration to improve the office, which has struggled with funding shortfalls and complaints from businesses about the rising backlog of unresolved applications.

Last year, it took 34.6 months on average for patent applications to be reviewed compared to 26.7 months in 2003.

via Expedited Patent Reviews Proposed – WSJ.com.