Using Alt Legal’s Automated Status Checks to Help Mitigate USPTO Delays
Alt Legal Team | January 30, 2026
Increased USPTO Filings Leads to Rise in Pendency Rates
Since 2019, the USPTO has seen a major increase in new trademark application filings, peaking in 2020-2021, when the USPTO received over 943,000 new filings, nearly double mid-decade levels. The increase in filings is widely attributed to new business formation during the pandemic, an increase in filings from China, and filings relating to the Amazon Brand Registry. The surge has since simmered and USPTO filings are stabilized but still elevated.
The increase in filings has created unexpected demand on USPTO examining attorneys, lengthening the first pendency rate, that is, the time in which an examining attorney issues an initial office action. The USPTO measures pendency rates on the Trademark Data Dashboard and currently states the first pendency rate is 5.6 months. The long term goal for first action pendency is 4.5 months.
Manage Long Pendency Rates with Regular Status Checks
While the USPTO has significantly improved its first pendency rate, the Alt Legal Team has had more requests to automate status checks on USPTO marks. With automated status checks, you can stay on top of your filings, promptly address any delays with the USPTO, and notify your clients or stakeholders with any updates to their filings.
Status checks will appear as entries on your daily email updates, and they can be set to remain open in the timeline of the docket until you’ve manually closed them.
Additionally, we understand that pendency rates are lagging globally. For your international trademarks, we can use international smart statuses to create status checks.
To set up your own custom, automated status checks in the docket, simply contact the Support Team. We’ll provide you with a template with some of the more commonly requested status checks and reminders including:
- New Application Status Check
- Amendment to Allege Use / Statement of Use filed – has it been accepted?
- SOU Accepted – Registration Received?
- Extension of Time Filed – Has the extension been accepted?
- OA Response Filed – Have we received anything further?
- Section 8 Filed – Has it been accepted?
- Section 15 Filed – Has it been accepted?
- Renewal Filed – has the renewal been accepted?
- Examiner’s Amendment/Priority Action response filed – any updates?
Alt Legal Supports Your Changing Requirements
At Alt Legal, we fundamentally believe that software should always be evolving. Our commitment to this principle means we are perpetually enhancing our platform. Your insights are what has helped Alt Legal become a leading provider of trademark management, and we’re here to support your trademark workflow each step of the way.
If you have any questions about how to best use our software, or if you would like to submit any suggestions for future updates, please contact our team using the live chat icon in the bottom right or emailing our Support Team at [email protected].