"The six-week trailing average for newly issued utility patents now sits at 318 days as of mid-April 2026, back near the levels that prevailed in 2015."
"The reversal has been faster. PTA has nearly tripled since mid-2021, and the recent slope shows no sign of leveling."
"The average utility patent issuing today carries close to an additional year of term beyond the twenty-year baseline under 35 U.S.C. § 154(b), all of it paid for by USPTO delay."
The average patent term adjustment for newly issued utility patents has risen to 318 days as of mid-April 2026, reflecting a trend similar to 2015 levels. This increase follows a decline from approximately 320 days in 2015 to a low of 120 days in mid-2021, achieved over six years. Since mid-2021, the patent term adjustment has nearly tripled, with no signs of leveling off. Current utility patents now carry nearly an additional year of term due to delays by the USPTO.
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