Examiner: FOLLANSBEE, JOHN A

Analysis

John A. Follansbee presents a difficult path for applicants in Tech Center 2400 and Art Unit 2441. With an allowance rate of only 11.9 percent across 42 resolved cases, securing a patent is statistically challenging. This difficulty is compounded by a median days to allowance of 1421, representing a prolonged period of prosecution. Such a low allowance rate combined with a long wait time suggests that many applications may result in abandonment or extensive appeals.

The data provides little evidence that interviews significantly alter these outcomes, as the interview lift is just 3.2 percent. With only 42 resolved cases and an 11.9 percent allowance rate, practitioners must be prepared for a high-resistance environment. The 1421-day median suggests that even successful cases require extensive persistence and likely multiple rounds of prosecution. In Art Unit 2441, the traditional interview strategy may not yield the same benefits seen with other examiners, requiring a more robust technical and legal approach from the outset.