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The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is requiring additional information whenever the delay in taking certain actions in patent applications and patents is more than one year, instead of routinely seeking additional information whenever the delay was more than two years. This action is being taken to increase certainty and predictability concerning patent rights, and to encourage the timely filing of grantable petitions to revive applications, accept delayed maintenance fee payments, accept delayed priority or benefit claims, and seek relief from time limits in connection with international design applications. In addition, the USPTO is changing the conditions for when the corresponding fee is required.