Peer to Patent via Wiki

Its tough for the USPTO to get up to speed in all areas for which patent applications are sent to them. That probably has something to do with why they are so backed up and often have to rubber stamp applications without a more in depth review. To address this problem, the USPTO has launched a pilot program called “Peer to Patent” which employs the JotSpot wiki engine. The idea is to open up the review process and invite the community to help dig up prior art and provide other assistance to the examiners.

If this takes off, it would be a major change to current patent system — which does need an overhaul. I can imagine that people will game the system and that it will take time to work out the kinks. But that is true with any new system. In the long run, moving from a slow bureaucratic environment to a more collectively governed situation is an important change in thinking which can only propel us in the right direction.