Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 26, 2026

Steven S Kim, USPTO Patent Examiner

Listed by the USPTO as KIM, STEVEN S

Tech Center 3600 • Art Units: 3685 3698

This examiner grants 39% of resolved cases

Analysis

KIM, STEVEN S works in tech center 3600 and art unit 3685. The record contains 470 resolved cases, with an allowance rate of 38.7%. The median time to allowance is 1923 days, and interviews are associated with a 39.7% lift.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Capital One Services LLC, and Disney Enterprises Inc. are the leading companies listed. The leading firms are K&L Gates LLP, KDW Firm PLLC (1988), and Invoke. The combination of the recorded allowance measure and interview measure supports close attention to examiner interaction and claim strategy. The median timing also makes early prosecution planning important for applicants managing commercial or portfolio deadlines.

Written from this page's own data; every figure is computed from USPTO records and verified before publication.

Performance Statistics

38.7%
Allow Rate
-13.3% vs TC avg
497
Total Applications
+39.7%
Interview Lift
1923
Avg Prosecution Days
Based on 470 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Rejection Statute Breakdown

24.5%
§101 Eligibility
7.3%
§102 Novelty
31.6%
§103 Obviousness
32.4%
§112 Clarity

Currently Pending Office Actions

App #TitleStatusAssignee
18408780 SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IDENTIFICATION-BASED PAYMENT INSTRUMENTS Final Rejection Capital One Services, LLC
18232541 SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INCREASING SECURITY FOR DIGITAL TRANSACTIONS WITH PREDETERMINED RISK FACTORS Final Rejection Capital One Services, LLC
19392687 SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTACTLESS SMART CARD AUTHENTICATION Final Rejection Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
18375638 SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VIRTUAL AND PHYSICAL TRACKING OF ASSETS Non-Final OA Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
18402972 Bridging End User Customer Support and Cloud Operator Customer Support Final Rejection Oracle International Corporation
18811926 METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING AN ADVANCED STORAGE KEY IN A MOBILE DEVICE WITHOUT SECURE ELEMENTS Non-Final OA Mastercard International Incorporated
19113035 SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ADAPTIVE LICENSING BASED UPON LICENSED APPLICATION USAGE INFORMATION Final Rejection THALES DIS CPL USA, INC.
18537426 METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR GENERATING LIMITED ACCESS NON-FUNGIBLE TOKENS Final Rejection THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
19262692 METHOD AND SYSTEM OF PROVIDING METAVERSE DIGITAL ASSET BASED ON RETAILER DESIRED PURCHASE, PARTICIPATION OR ACTION Final Rejection TARGET BRANDS, INC.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is examiner Steven S Kim's allowance rate?

38.7% of resolved applications examined by Steven S Kim were allowed (470 resolved cases), compared with 40.6% across Art Unit 3685 over the last five years.

Does an interview help with examiner Steven S Kim?

This examiner's interview lift is +39.7 percentage points: the difference in allowance rate between resolved applications that had an examiner interview and those that did not.

How long does examiner Steven S Kim take to allow a patent?

Applications allowed by Steven S Kim took 1,923 days on average from filing to allowance.

Which art unit does examiner Steven S Kim work in?

Steven S Kim examines applications in Art Unit 3685 in Tech Center 3600 (Transportation, E-Commerce & Mechanical Systems).

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