Attorneys at Precipice IP have been chosen to participate in USPTO STEPP training, or Stakeholder Training on Examination Practice and Procedure. This training is designed to provide external stakeholders (attorneys, inventors, etc.) with a better understanding of how, and why, an examiner makes decisions while examining a patent application. Courses are led by USPTO trainers and based on material developed for training USPTO employees.

What is the purpose of the STEPP program? 

• Increase transparency by making USPTO training on examination practice and procedure available to external stakeholders
• Provide perspective to external stakeholders by detailing what an examiner considers in preparing an office action
• Aid in compact prosecution by disclosing to external stakeholders how examiners are taught to use the MPEP to interpret an applicant’s disclosure